ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Esperion Therapeutics,
Inc. (Nasdaq: ESPR), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery,
development and commercialization of therapies to improve the treatment of
cardiovascular disease, today announced that it has been granted a patent for
the Company's small molecule program by the United States Patent and Trademark
Office. U.S. Patent Number 6,673,780, entitled "Sulfoxide and Bis-sulfoxide
Compounds and Compositions for Cholesterol Management and Related Uses,"
covers novel chemical compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the
compounds and methods for their use in the treatment of a variety of diseases,
such as cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia and
hypertension, and was invented by Esperion scientists. Esperion now holds
five U.S. patents and 18 pending U.S. patent applications and corresponding
foreign applications in support of its small molecule program.
Esperion's small molecule program is focused on identifying and developing
new treatments for patients with lipid disorders, which can be characterized
by excess levels of LDL-cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol, and triglycerides
and/or low levels of HDL-cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol. According to
the American Heart Association, patients with lipid disorders are at elevated
risk for developing heart disease. Esperion intends to develop small
molecules as orally-administered chronic therapies to complement existing
medications such as statins.
Esperion Therapeutics
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. discovers and develops pharmaceutical products
for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Esperion intends to
commercialize a novel class of drugs that focuses on a new treatment approach
called "HDL Therapy," which is based on the Company's understanding of high-
density lipoprotein, or HDL, function. HDL is the primary facilitator of the
reverse lipid transport, or RLT, pathway by which excess cholesterol and other
lipids are removed from artery walls and other tissues and are transported to
the liver for elimination from the body. Esperion's goal is to develop drugs
that exploit the beneficial functions of HDL within the RLT pathway. Esperion
currently has four product candidates in clinical development. Esperion is
listed on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol "ESPR."
Safe Harbor Statement
The information contained in this press release includes "forward-looking
statements." These forward-looking statements are often identified by words
such as "hope," "may," "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "require,"
"intend," "assume" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date of this press release, reflect management's current
expectations, estimations and projections and involve certain factors, such as
risks and uncertainties, that may cause actual results, performance or
achievements to be far different from those suggested by Esperion's forward-
looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks
associated with: uncertainty as to whether Esperion's acquisition by Pfizer
will be completed; Esperion's ability to successfully execute its business
strategies, including entering into strategic partnerships or other
transactions if the transaction with Pfizer is not completed; the progress and
cost of development of Esperion's product candidates; the extent and timing of
market acceptance of new products developed by Esperion or its competitors;
Esperion's dependence on third parties to conduct clinical trials for
Esperion's product candidates; the extent and timing of regulatory approval,
as desired or required, for Esperion's product candidates; Esperion's
dependence on licensing arrangements and strategic relationships with third
parties; clinical trials; manufacturing; Esperion's dependence on patents and
proprietary rights; the procurement, maintenance, enforcement and defense of
Esperion's patents and proprietary rights; competitive conditions in the
industry; business cycles affecting the markets in which any of Esperion's
future products may be sold; extraordinary events and transactions; seeking
and consummating business acquisitions, including the diversion of
management's attention to the assimilation of the operations and personnel of
any acquired business; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; and economic
conditions generally or in various geographic areas. Because all of the
foregoing factors are difficult to forecast, you should not place undue
reliance on any forward-looking statement. More detailed information about
some of these and other risk factors is set forth in Esperion's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Esperion does not intend to update
any of these factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to
any of these forward-looking statements other than as required under the
federal securities laws.
Company Amy Cannon
Contact: Manager, Corporate Communications
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
(734) 222-1801
acannon@esperion.com
Media Jim Wetmore
Contact: Berry & Company Public Relations
(212) 253-8881
jwetmore@berrypr.com
SOURCE Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.esperion.com
CONTACT:
Company Contact: Amy Cannon, Manager,
Corporate Communications of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.,
+1-734-222-1801, acannon@esperion.com ; Media Contact: Jim
Wetmore of Berry & Company Public Relations, +1-212-253-8881,
jwetmore@berrypr.com
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