Amarin Corporation plc (NASDAQ:AMRN) presented new clinical and laboratory research examining the relationship between lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), and cardiovascular risk at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago.
The findings included an analysis of cardiovascular outcomes among participants in the REDUCE-IT trial and laboratory experiments investigating the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on inflammation and oxidative stress associated with Lp(a).
The research builds on previous REDUCE-IT analyses examining cardiovascular risk among patients receiving statin therapy and the effects of icosapent ethyl, marketed as VASCEPA and VAZKEPA.
REDUCE-IT Analysis Identifies Lp(a) as Independent Cardiovascular Risk Factor
The clinical analysis examined baseline Lp(a) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) measurements from 6,988 participants in the REDUCE-IT trial.
Researchers evaluated whether Lp(a) was associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) among patients with statin-controlled LDL cholesterol and elevated triglycerides.
The analysis found that Lp(a) was independently associated with cardiovascular event risk, while apoB-containing lipoproteins excluding Lp(a) were not predictive of outcomes in the study population.
Similar findings were observed among participants with Lp(a) concentrations above and below 150 nmol/L, with the association most evident among those in the highest Lp(a) quartile.
Investigators concluded that Lp(a) contributes to residual cardiovascular risk independently of icosapent ethyl treatment.
Previous post hoc REDUCE-IT findings also indicated that icosapent ethyl reduced cardiovascular events when added to statin therapy across different baseline Lp(a) concentrations.
Laboratory Study Examines EPA Effects on Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
A separate laboratory investigation evaluated how oxidised Lp(a) affects endothelial cells, which line blood vessels, and whether EPA could modify the associated cellular responses.
Researchers found that exposure to oxidised Lp(a) altered the expression of more than 600 proteins involved in processes including inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and cellular injury.
Oxidised Lp(a) increased release of the inflammatory protein IL-6 by 27% compared with control conditions.
EPA treatment reduced IL-6 levels by 31% relative to cells exposed to oxidised Lp(a) without EPA treatment.
The experiments also identified changes in proteins associated with cellular protection and inflammatory regulation following EPA pretreatment.
Investigators concluded that EPA may reduce certain biological effects associated with oxidised Lp(a), although the laboratory findings do not independently establish clinical benefits in patients.
Findings Add to Research on Residual Cardiovascular Risk
The presentations follow the recently reported results of the Lp(a)HORIZON cardiovascular outcomes trial, which did not meet its primary endpoint despite substantially lowering Lp(a) levels.
Aaron Berg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amarin, said the findings contribute to understanding the mechanisms associated with cardiovascular risk in patients receiving cholesterol-lowering treatment.
Amarin’s prescription therapy VASCEPA/VAZKEPA contains icosapent ethyl and is commercially available in multiple international markets.
The company said the latest clinical and laboratory analyses provide additional information about Lp(a)-associated cardiovascular risk and the biological effects of EPA.