Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESPR)

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (ESPR) is a pharmaceutical company that specializes in the development and commercialization of innovative, oral, once-daily, non-statin medicines for patients with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and cardiovascular disease. The company's primary products, NEXLETOL (bempedoic acid) and NEXLIZET (bempedoic acid and ezetimibe) tablets, are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of primary hyperlipidemia in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Esperion's business activities are focused on the development and commercialization of its proprietary, oral, once-daily, non-statin medicines for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease. The company's primary products, NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET, are designed to lower LDL-C and cardiovascular risk by inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver and up-regulating the LDL receptors. These products cater to a broad market, including patients with HeFH, ASCVD, and primary prevention patients who are unable to maximize or tolerate a statin. Additionally, Esperion's products are designed to be used in combination with other lipid-lowering therapies, such as statins, to achieve optimal LDL-C levels.

Esperion's position within the industry is characterized by its innovative approach to lipid-lowering therapy, which has led to the development of the first LDL-C lowering therapy since statins to demonstrate the ability to lower hard ischemic events, not only in those with ASCVD, but also in the large number of primary prevention patients for whom limited therapies exist. The company's products have also been shown to be well-tolerated, with a safety profile similar to that of placebo.

Esperion's customers include patients with hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease, as well as healthcare providers and payers who are seeking effective and innovative treatments for these conditions. The company's products are marketed and distributed through a network of specialty pharmacies and healthcare providers.

Esperion's revenue is generated through two primary sources: product sales and collaboration revenue. Product sales relate to the sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in the U.S., while collaboration revenue consists of the collaboration payments made to the company under its collaboration arrangements outside of the U.S. for the development and commercialization of its product candidates by its partners. The company's research and development expenses are primarily related to clinical development costs, including costs associated with the CLEAR Outcomes CVOT, and compensation-related costs, including stock-based compensation. The company's selling, general and administrative expenses are primarily related to commercialization and distribution costs, including costs associated with the commercial launch of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in the U.S.

Esperion's intellectual property portfolio includes patents and patent applications related to its products and technologies, including patents that cover the composition of matter, methods of use, and pharmaceutical formulations of its products. The company also relies on trade secrets and unpatented know-how to protect its technology and processes.

Esperion's competitive landscape is characterized by the presence of other pharmaceutical companies that are developing and commercializing lipid-lowering therapies, including PCSK9 inhibitors and small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) therapies. These competitors include companies such as Amgen, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and Sanofi, which have developed PCSK9 inhibitors such as evolocumab and alirocumab. Novartis AG has also developed an siRNA therapy called inclisiran, which is designed to lower LDL-C by inhibiting the production of PCSK9.

Esperion's product pipeline includes next-generation ACLY inhibitors, which have the potential to address multiple life-threatening diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic associated fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/metabolic associated steatohepatitis (NASH).