Highly purified ethyl epa and other epa derivatives

Abstract

A pharmaceutical preparation comprising EPA in an appropriately assimilable form where of all the fatty acids present in the preparation at least 90%, and preferably at least 95%, is in the form of EPA and where less than 5%, and preferably less than 3%, is in the form of DHA is provided.

1 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising eicosapentaenoic acid, wherein the composition contains no docosahexaenoic acid and the composition is present in a capsule. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition contains less than 5% of any fatty acid other than eicosapentaenoic acid. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition contains less than 3% of any fatty acid other than eicosapentaenoic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the eicosapentaenoic acid comprises ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid, lithium-eicosapentaenoic acid, mono-, di- or triglyceride eicosapentaenoic acid, or an ester, salt or free acid of eicosapentaenoic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the eicosapentaenoic acid comprises ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid or an ester thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein the capsule is a gelatin capsule. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 5  where the composition comprises at least 90% wt/wt ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid or an ester thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 5  where the composition comprises at least 95% wt/wt ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid or an ester thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of any one of  claims 1 - 8  wherein the eicosapentaenoic acid is present in the composition in an amount of 250 mg to 1000 mg. 
     
     
         10 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising 250 mg to 1000 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid, wherein the composition contains no docosahexaenoic acid, less than 5% of any fatty acid other than eicosapentaenoic acid, and the composition is present in a capsule. 
     
     
         11 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising 250 mg to 1000 mg of ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid or an ester thereof, wherein the composition contains no docosahexaenoic acid, less than 5% of any fatty acid other than ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid or an ester thereof, and the composition is present in a capsule.