high-risk patients with persistent cardiovascular risk after statin therapy, we are proud of our role in ushering in a new era in cardiovascular care. With our unique therapeutic solution and deep bench of internal talent, I believe that now is an ideal time to transition leadership to Karim as we work to realize Amarin’s full potential. Since Karim joined Amarin last year, he has proven himself to be an invaluable member of the leadership team and a true partner to me as we prepare for the commercialization of VAZKEPA in Europe. I am excited to continue working closely with him and the board to facilitate a successful transition over the coming months.”
Mr. Mikhail stated, “I joined Amarin last year because I was inspired by the company’s entrepreneurial spirit in addressing such a large unmet medical need and the potential to set a new standard of cardiovascular care. I am honored to take on this new role. We have an unparalleled product with outstanding evidence, positive efficacy and safety profile, and tremendous momentum with our near-term European launch plans and expected commercial approval in China near the end of 2021. Amarin’s team is first rate and I am excited to build upon the strong commercial progress in the United States. I look forward to working with John, the board and the entire Amarin team as we capture the significant growth opportunities ahead.”
About Karim Mikhail
Mr. Mikhail, 50, joined Amarin in July 2020, and currently serves as senior vice president and head of commercial for Europe where he has responsibility for the company’s commercialization of VAZKEPA in Europe. He was previously with Merck for 22 years, in seven different countries, spanning three continents, where he held positions of increasing responsibility, including as global commercial leader for Merck’s $4 billion lipid franchise and chief marketing officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa and chief operating officer for emerging markets. Mr. Mikhail led THEODON, a global commercial strategy consultancy he founded in 2018.
Mr. Mikhail is a pharmacist by training and holds a master’s degree in biopharmaceutical marketing and management from the graduate school of business in Paris, École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris (ESCP).
About Amarin
Amarin is an innovative pharmaceutical company leading a new paradigm in cardiovascular disease management. From our scientific research foundation to our focus on clinical trials, and now our commercial expansion, we are evolving and growing rapidly. Amarin has offices in Bridgewater, New Jersey in the United States, Dublin in Ireland, and Zug in Switzerland as well as commercial partners and suppliers around the world. We are committed to rethinking cardiovascular risk through the advancement of scientific understanding of the impact on society of significant residual risk that exists beyond traditional therapies, such as statins for cholesterol management.
About Cardiovascular Risk
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the world. In the United States alone, cardiovascular disease results in 859,000 deaths per year.1 And the number of deaths in the United States attributed to cardiovascular disease continues to rise. In addition, in the United States there are 605,000 new and 200,000 recurrent heart attacks per year (approximately 1 every 40 seconds). Stroke rates are 795,000 per year (approximately 1 every 40 seconds), accounting for 1 of every 19 U.S. deaths. In aggregate, in the United States alone, there are more than 2.4 million major adverse cardiovascular events per year from cardiovascular disease or, on average, 1 every 13 seconds.
Controlling bad cholesterol, also known as LDL-C, is one way to reduce a patient’s risk for cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke or death. However, even with the achievement of target LDL-C levels, millions of patients still have significant and persistent risk of cardiovascular events, especially those patients with elevated
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