Specialty drugmaker Amarin Corp. is eliminating half of its employees after an FDA panels of experts voted not to recommend that the FDA expand the use of Amarin's omega-3 product, Vascepa.
The drugmaker had sought approval for use of the fish-oil drug with a cholesterol-lowering statin to reduce the risk of coronary disease. The FDA is yet to make its final decision, but Amarin is not hopeful.
Vascepa was approved in 2012 for a relatively narrow use in patients with unusually high triglyceride levels.
A majority of panelists said that while Vascepa significantly lowers fat levels, it is unclear whether that actually translates into fewer heart attacks.