Esperion Therapeutics Inc, a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing HDL-targeted therapies, announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued the first patent under its HDL elevator, small molecule program. United States Patent Number 6,410,802, titled "Methods for synthesizing ether compounds and intermediates," covers methods of synthesizing novel ether compounds that could be used for treating and preventing cardiovascular diseases, lipid disorders, and glucose metabolism disorders, and was invented by Esperion scientists.

Esperion has also filed several U.S. and foreign applications covering composition of matter and therapeutic applications for other small molecules.

Esperion's HDL elevator program is focused on the development of orally active, organic small molecules that are being developed to increase HDL-cholesterol levels and/or enhance their function to stimulate the reverse lipid transport (RLT) pathway. Product candidates in this class may also possess anti-diabetic, anti-obesity and/or additional lipid management properties.

The Company is working on several other small molecule product candidates that are being evaluated for potential development as treatments for cardiovascular disease.