Esperion Therapeutics Inc has initiated a Phase I study of ETC-1001, the Company's lead oral small molecule product candidate. ETC-1001 is intended to be a chronic treatment for individuals with lipid disorders. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of single escalating doses of ETC-1001 in up to 36 healthy volunteers.

Esperion's oral small molecule drug discovery program is focused on identifying and developing new treatments for lipid disorders. Esperion intends to develop oral small molecules as a chronic therapy to complement statins and other lipid regulating agents.

ETC-1001 is a synthetic, orally-active lipid regulating agent designed to elevate levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), the "good" cholesterol. In pre-clinical studies, ETC-1001 demonstrated the ability to elevate HDL-cholesterol levels, while also reducing levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), the "bad" cholesterol, and triglycerides. ETC-1001 was also shown to inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis in pre-clinical models.