Esperion Announces FDA Approval of NEXLETOL (bempedoic acid) Tablet, an Oral, Once-Daily, Non-Statin LDL-Cholesterol Lowering Medicine

– First Oral, Once-Daily, Non-Statin LDL-Cholesterol Lowering Medicine Approved in the U.S. in Nearly 20 Years for Indicated Patients –
– NEXLETOL Lowers LDL-Cholesterol with a First-in-Class Mechanism –
– Fills an Unmet Need for Affordable Medicines for Millions of Patients with ASCVD or HeFH –
– NEXLETOL will be Commercially Available in the U.S. March 30, 2020 –
– Conference Call and Webcast on Monday, February 24 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time –

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Esperion (NASDAQ:ESPR) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved NEXLETOL (bempedoic acid) tablet, an oral, once-daily, non-statin LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering medicine. NEXLETOL is indicated as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) or established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) who require additional lowering of LDL-C. The effect of NEXLETOL on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been determined. NEXLETOL is the first oral, once-daily, non-statin LDL-C lowering medicine approved since 2002 for indicated patients.

NEXLETOL is a first-in-class ATP Citrate Lyase (ACL) inhibitor that lowers LDL-C by inhibition of cholesterol synthesis in the liver.

“NEXLETOL delivers upon a commitment we’ve made to millions of patients for a new treatment alternative if they struggle with bad cholesterol and have ASCVD or HeFH,” said Tim Mayleben, president and chief executive officer of Esperion. “Even with maximally tolerated statins, which may mean no statin at all, some of these patients can’t achieve their LDL-C goals. Today’s approval provides them with a new medicine to go along with a healthy diet. We express our sincere gratitude to all of the patients and physicians who put their confidence in Esperion’s team of lipid experts.”

LDL-C is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in the body. Elevated LDL-C contributes to a buildup of this fat in the arteries and can lead to cardiovascular events including heart attack and stroke. Despite standard of care treatments, including statin therapy, it is estimated nearly 15 million patients (approximately one in four patients) in the U.S. cannot achieve guideline recommended LDL-C levels.

“The FDA approval of NEXLETOL provides an important option for patients living with elevated LDL-C and ASCVD or increased risk for cardiovascular disease because of HeFH,” said Christie M. Ballantyne, M.D., chairman of Esperion’s Phase 3 Executive Committee and professor and chief of cardiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “There are millions of patients who are unable to reach their LDL-C targets despite available medicines. NEXLETOL is the first oral, once-daily, non-statin treatment option for indicated patients in nearly two decades.”