Esperion's ETC-1002 meets in hypercholesterolemia trial

Esperion Therapeutics Inc. (Plymouth, Mich.) said once-daily oral ETC-1002 met the primary endpoint of reducing mean LDL-C from baseline to week eight vs. placebo in a Phase IIa trial to treat hypercholesterolemia (32% vs. 3%, p<0.0001). ETC-1002 also significantly reduced high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels from baseline to week eight vs. placebo. The double-blind, U.S. trial enrolled 56 patients with hypercholesterolemia and a history of intolerance to two or more statins.

By year end, Esperion plans to start a Phase IIb trial evaluating multiple doses of ETC-1002 given for up to 12 weeks vs. Zetia ezetimibe from Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) in patients with hypercholesterolemia, including patients with a history of statin intolerance. Top-line data from a Phase IIa trial evaluating ETC-1002 in combination with statin therapy to treat hypercholesterolemia are expected in 3Q13. ETC-1002 is an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator and ATP citrate lyase (ACL) inhibitor. ...