Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (ESPR) is a biopharmaceutical company with a specific focus on the development and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of patients with elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), which is often referred to as 'bad cholesterol'.
Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the company was established in 2008, building on the work of Roger S. Newton, the co-discoverer of Lipitor, one of the best-selling cholesterol drugs in history. Esperion’s dedication to treating lipid disorders has given hope to patients who struggle to manage their cholesterol levels through diet, exercise, and traditional statin therapies.
Esperion's primary products are bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet. Both are once-daily, oral therapies for people with elevated LDL-C who need additional reduction beyond what they can achieve with changes to their lifestyle and statin therapy. In 2020, both drugs received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The European Medicines Agency (EMA) also recommended the approval of these products in April 2020.
Bempedoic acid lowers cholesterol by inhibiting the same enzyme in the liver that is inhibited by statins, but it works in a different way. Compared to statins that are cleared quickly from the body, bempedoic acid stays in the body for longer, therefore it continues to block the production of cholesterol in the liver throughout the day.
The mission of Esperion Therapeutics is to provide patients with convenient, cost-effective, and complementary oral therapies that offer significant LDL-C-lowering. These advances are particularly important for those who are statin intolerant and have few other options, a population thought to number around 5 to 20% of people prescribed statins.
In an environment where heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, Esperion Therapeutics' work has created waves in the healthcare industry. The company’s dedication to patient care combined with its innovative approach to dealing with cholesterol management continues to set it apart in the biopharmaceutical industry. As Esperion continues to grow, it will be exciting to see how their work will develop and impact the treatment and management of high LDL-C.