First-In-Class Cholesterol-Lowering Treatment NILEMDO (NEXLETOL in the U.S.) and Its Combination with Ezetimibe, NUSTENDI (NEXLIZET in the U.S.), Approved In Europe To Treat Hypercholesterolemia and Significantly Reduce Cardiovascular Risk

– NILEMDO (bempedoic acid), a First-In-Class, Oral Treatment and NUSTENDI (bempedoic Acid / Ezetimibe Fixed-Dose Combination) Receive Label Update Approval from The European Commission as Treatments to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk by Lowering Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) Levels –

– This Makes Bempedoic Acid the First and Only LDL-C Lowering Treatment Indicated for Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events –

– Up To 80% Of Patients Do Not Reach Guideline-Recommended LDL-C Goals Despite Receiving Treatments Such as Statins and Remain at an Increased Risk of a Heart Attack or Stroke and In Need of Additional Treatment –

ANN ARBOR, Mich. and MUNICH, Germany, May 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH (hereafter, ‘Daiichi Sankyo’) and Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. jointly announced today that the European Commission (EC) has approved the label update of both NILEMDO (bempedoic acid) and NUSTENDI (bempedoic acid / ezetimibe fixed-dose combination (FDC)), as treatments for hypercholesterolemia (high levels of cholesterol) and to reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events. The EC’s decisions to update the labels of bempedoic acid and bempedoic acid / ezetimibe FDC are based on the positive CLEAR Outcomes trial results and makes them the first and only LDL-C lowering treatments indicated for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events.

The EC decisions follow the previous CHMP opinions received in March this year, and approved bempedoic acid and its fixed-dose combination (bempedoic acid / ezetimibe) for use in adults with established or at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to reduce cardiovascular risk by lowering LDL-C levels, as an adjunct to correction of other risk factors.

In Europe, around one in seven people have high LDL-C levels, and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, responsible for more than 10,000 lives lost every day. However, up to 80% of patients do not reach guideline-recommended LDL-C goals despite receiving treatments such as statins and are at increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Bempedoic acid is a first-in-class oral treatment which lowers cholesterol, and which can be combined with other treatments to help lower cholesterol even further. Bempedoic acid provided additional cholesterol lowering of up to 28% on top of statin therapy, compared to placebo. Bempedoic acid / ezetimibe FDC combines two complementary ways of reducing cholesterol in a once-daily tablet, reduced LDL-C by 38% compared to placebo in high-risk patients already taking maximum-tolerated statin therapy.