The FDA has approved a new type of medication for the prevention of stroke and cardiovascular disease in selected patients with high triglyceride levels. These patients are usually treated with a type of drug known as a statin. Vascepa, the newly approved medication, is the first new type of drug to to reduce cardiovascular risk among patients with elevated triglyceride levels as an add-on to high dose statin therapy.
Vascepa is approved for use in patients that have known heart disease, or diabetes and other risk factors. It is derived from fish oil, and is the first medication of its type to be proven effective.
More information is available on the FDA website. The link is available here:
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-use-drug-reduce-risk-cardiovascular-events-certain-adult-patient-groups