Small molecule compounds may enhance the body's natural ability to trap
and remove excess cholesterol from arteries and other tissues
ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESPR), a biopharmaceutical company
focused on discovering and developing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) --
targeted therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases -- today
announced that it has been granted a patent for the Company's oral small
molecule program by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. U.S.
Patent Number 6,506,799, titled "Methods of treating cardiovascular diseases,
dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, and hypertension with ether compounds,"
covers methods for the use of certain small molecules to treat a variety of
cardiovascular diseases and was invented by Esperion scientists. Esperion now
holds three U.S. patents in support of its oral small molecule program, and
eleven U.S. patent applications and corresponding foreign applications in
support of the program are pending.
Esperion is researching and developing orally active, small molecule
compounds that elevate high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), the
"good" cholesterol, and reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),
the "bad" cholesterol, and triglycerides. These compounds may enhance the
body's natural ability to trap and remove excess cholesterol and lipids from
arteries and other tissues, potentially reducing the risk of future
cardiovascular events. Based on pre-clinical studies, Esperion believes that
one or more oral small molecule product candidates could be used to treat
lipid disorders that are risk factors for cardiovascular disease, either as a
stand alone therapy or as a complement to statin therapy.
"The new patent for Esperion's oral small molecule development program
further enhances our growing intellectual property estate for the development
and commercialization of HDL therapies," said Roger S. Newton, Ph.D.,
president and chief executive officer of Esperion Therapeutics. "Our
increasing activity in the small molecule arena should allow us to capitalize
on the strengths of our scientific team in the successful development of
therapies to treat heart disease."
Esperion Therapeutics
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. discovers and develops pharmaceutical products
for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. 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 arteries 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 several product candidates under development
for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Esperion is
listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "ESPR." For more
information, visit http://www.esperion.com .
Safe Harbor Statement
The information contained in this press release includes "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. These forward-looking statements are often identified by words such
as "hope," "may," "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "intend,"
"assume," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements speak only as
of the date of this press release, reflect management's current expectations
and involve certain factors, such as risks and uncertainties, which may cause
actual results to be far different from those suggested by the Company's
forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to,
risks associated with: management's ability to successfully execute its
business strategies, including entering into any strategic partnerships or
other transactions; the progress and cost of development of the Company's
product candidates; the extent and timing of market acceptance of new products
developed by the Company or its competitors; dependence on third parties to
conduct clinical trials for these product candidates; the extent and timing of
regulatory approval, as desired or required, for the Company's product
candidates; the Company's dependence on licensing arrangements and strategic
relationships with third parties; clinical trials; manufacturing; the
Company's dependence on patents and proprietary rights; the procurement,
maintenance, enforcement and defense of the Company's patents and proprietary
rights; competitive conditions in the industry; business cycles affecting the
markets in which any of the Company's products may be sold; extraordinary
events and transactions; the timing and extent of the Company's financing
needs and the Company's access to funding, including through the equity
market; economic conditions generally or in various geographic areas; and
other factors. These factors are discussed in more detail in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company 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.
Media Contact:
Jim Wetmore
Berry & Company Public Relations
(212) 253-8881
jwetmore@berrypr.com
Company Contact:
Frank Thomas
VP, Finance and Investor Relations
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
(734) 222-1831
fthomas@esperion.com
SOURCE Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.esperion.com
CONTACT:
Media Contact: Jim Wetmore of Berry &
Company Public Relations, +1-212-253-8881, jwetmore@berrypr.com ,
for Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.; or Company Contact: Frank
Thomas, VP, Finance and Investor Relations of Esperion
Therapeutics, Inc., +1-734-222-1831, fthomas@esperion.com
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