Esperion hypercholesterolemia candidate meets in fifth and final Phase III

Esperion Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR) said bempedoic acid (ETC-1002) as monotherapy met the primary endpoint of reducing LDL-C in the Phase III CLEAR Wisdom (1002-047) trial to treat hypercholesterolemia in high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) patients on maximally tolerated statins who required additional LDL-C lowering. CLEAR Wisdom is the fifth of five trials in the Phase III program of bempedoic acid in about 4,000 patients (see "Esperion Combo Lowers LDL-C in Phase III for High-Risk ASCVD").

In May, the company said bempedoic acid as monotherapy met the primary safety endpoint and key secondary efficacy endpoint in the Phase III CLEAR Harmony (1002-040) trial to treat high-risk ASCVD patients with hypercholesterolemia on maximally tolerated statins, but also reported a higher incidence of fatal adverse events in the active arm vs. placebo (see “Esperion Reports Phase III Data for Hypercholesterolemia Candidate”)...