Esperion jumps on Phase IIb ETC-1002 results

Esperion Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR) said both doses of its ETC-1002 met the primary endpoint compared to ezetimibe in a Phase IIb study to treat patients with hypercholesterolemia, with or without statin intolerance. Ezetimibe, which inhibits absorption of cholesterol from the intestine, is marketed as Zetia by Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK).

ETC-1002, an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator and ATP citrate lyase (ACL) inhibitor, led to LDL-cholesterol lowering of 30% at the 180 mg dose (p<0.0001) and 27% at the 120 mg dose (p=0.0008) after 12 weeks vs. 21% with ezetimibe. ...