Esperion Partners with HLS Therapeutics to Commercialize NEXLETOL® (bempedoic acid) and NEXLIZET® (bempedoic acid and ezetimibe) in Canada
Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ESPR) has entered into a license and distribution agreement with HLS Therapeutics for exclusive commercialization rights of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in Canada. The agreement includes an upfront payment, milestone payments up to $5 million, and tiered royalties on product sales. Esperion will supply the finished product at a profitable transfer price.
The partnership aims to address a significant market, as approximately 2.6 million Canadian adults live with diagnosed heart disease, which is the second leading cause of death in Canada. HLS will handle commercialization, reimbursement, and marketing responsibilities in Canada, while Esperion maintains product supply duties.
Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ESPR) ha stipulato un accordo di licenza e distribuzione con HLS Therapeutics per i diritti esclusivi di commercializzazione di NEXLETOL e NEXLIZET in Canada. L'accordo prevede un pagamento iniziale, pagamenti basati su obiettivi fino a 5 milioni di dollari e royalties a scaglioni sulle vendite dei prodotti. Esperion fornirà il prodotto finito a un prezzo di trasferimento redditizio.
La collaborazione mira a rispondere a un mercato importante, poiché circa 2,6 milioni di adulti canadesi convivono con una diagnosi di malattia cardiaca, seconda causa di morte in Canada. HLS si occuperà della commercializzazione, del rimborso e delle attività di marketing in Canada, mentre Esperion manterrà la responsabilità della fornitura del prodotto.
Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ESPR) ha firmado un acuerdo de licencia y distribución con HLS Therapeutics para los derechos exclusivos de comercialización de NEXLETOL y NEXLIZET en Canadá. El acuerdo incluye un pago inicial, pagos por hitos de hasta 5 millones de dólares y regalías escalonadas sobre las ventas del producto. Esperion suministrará el producto terminado a un precio de transferencia rentable.
La asociación busca atender un mercado significativo, ya que aproximadamente 2,6 millones de adultos canadienses viven con enfermedad cardíaca diagnosticada, la segunda causa principal de muerte en Canadá. HLS se encargará de la comercialización, reembolso y marketing en Canadá, mientras que Esperion mantendrá las responsabilidades de suministro del producto.
에스페리온 테라퓨틱스 (NASDAQ: ESPR)는 HLS 테라퓨틱스와 캐나다 내 NEXLETOL 및 NEXLIZET의 독점 상업화 권리를 위한 라이선스 및 유통 계약을 체결했습니다. 이 계약에는 선불금, 최대 500만 달러의 마일스톤 지급액, 제품 판매에 따른 단계별 로열티가 포함되어 있습니다. 에스페리온은 수익성 있는 이전 가격으로 완제품을 공급할 예정입니다.
이번 파트너십은 약 260만 명의 캐나다 성인이 심장 질환 진단을 받고 있으며, 이는 캐나다에서 두 번째로 주요한 사망 원인이라는 점에서 중요한 시장을 겨냥하고 있습니다. HLS는 캐나다 내 상업화, 보험급여 및 마케팅 업무를 담당하며, 에스페리온은 제품 공급 책임을 유지합니다.
Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ : ESPR) a conclu un accord de licence et de distribution avec HLS Therapeutics pour les droits exclusifs de commercialisation de NEXLETOL et NEXLIZET au Canada. L'accord comprend un paiement initial, des paiements d'étapes pouvant atteindre 5 millions de dollars, ainsi que des redevances échelonnées sur les ventes des produits. Esperion fournira le produit fini à un prix de transfert rentable.
Ce partenariat vise un marché important, puisque près de 2,6 millions d'adultes canadiens vivent avec une maladie cardiaque diagnostiquée, qui est la deuxième cause principale de mortalité au Canada. HLS prendra en charge la commercialisation, le remboursement et le marketing au Canada, tandis qu'Esperion conservera la responsabilité de l'approvisionnement en produit.
Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ESPR) hat eine Lizenz- und Vertriebsvereinbarung mit HLS Therapeutics für die exklusiven Vermarktungsrechte von NEXLETOL und NEXLIZET in Kanada abgeschlossen. Die Vereinbarung umfasst eine Vorauszahlung, Meilensteinzahlungen von bis zu 5 Millionen US-Dollar sowie gestaffelte Lizenzgebühren auf Produktverkäufe. Esperion wird das Fertigprodukt zu einem profitablen Verrechnungspreis liefern.
Die Partnerschaft zielt auf einen bedeutenden Markt ab, da etwa 2,6 Millionen kanadische Erwachsene mit diagnostizierter Herzkrankheit leben, der zweitgrößten Todesursache in Kanada. HLS übernimmt die Vermarktung, Erstattung und das Marketing in Kanada, während Esperion für die Produktversorgung verantwortlich bleibt.
- Partnership grants access to Canadian market of 2.6 million potential patients with heart disease
- Agreement includes upfront payment plus milestone payments up to $5 million
- Additional revenue stream through tiered royalties and profitable transfer pricing
- No development costs as HLS handles commercialization, reimbursement, and marketing
- None.
Insights
Esperion expands reach through Canadian partnership with HLS, securing upfront payment, $5M potential milestones, royalties, and profitable supply arrangement.
Esperion's licensing deal with HLS Therapeutics represents a strategic expansion of their commercialization footprint into the Canadian market for their cholesterol-lowering medications NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET. The financial structure provides Esperion with multiple revenue streams: an upfront payment (amount undisclosed), milestone payments up to
The Canadian market presents a meaningful opportunity with 2.6 million adults diagnosed with heart disease, which ranks as the second leading cause of death in Canada. This creates a substantial addressable population for Esperion's therapies once approved by Health Canada (the products appear to be pending regulatory approval based on the note about Canadian brand names being confirmed upon approval).
This agreement follows standard pharmaceutical industry licensing practices where Esperion maintains manufacturing responsibilities while transferring commercial activities to a partner with regional expertise. For Esperion, this creates an asset-light approach to geographic expansion—they gain access to the Canadian market without building direct commercial infrastructure, allowing them to generate returns while HLS handles market-specific activities like reimbursement negotiations and marketing.
While the financial terms don't specify exact upfront payment amounts or royalty percentages, the structure creates both immediate financial benefits and long-term revenue potential. The deal appears immediately cash-flow positive through the upfront payment while establishing framework for ongoing revenue without significant additional operational expenses.
– Esperion to Receive an Upfront Payment, Near-Term Milestones and Tiered Royalties on Product Sales –
– Further Expands Global Access to Bempedoic Acid Products and Provides Opportunity to Bring Innovative Preventative Therapy to 2.6 million Canadians Living with Diagnosed Heart Disease –
ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ESPR) today announced it has entered into a license and distribution agreement with HLS Therapeutics (TSX:HLS) for the exclusive rights to commercialize NEXLETOL* and NEXLIZET* in Canada. Under the terms of the agreement, Esperion will receive an upfront payment, near-term milestone and tiered royalties on product sales. Esperion will be responsible for supplying finished product to HLS Therapeutics at a profitable transfer price.
According to the Government of Canada, approximately one in 12 Canadian adults aged 20 and over, which represents 2.6 million people, are living with diagnosed heart disease. It is the second leading cause of death in Canada, with approximately 14 Canadian adults aged 20 and over dying every hour due to diagnosed heart disease.
“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Esperion to bring these innovative treatments to the many Canadians suffering from, or at risk of, cardiovascular disease,” said Craig Millian, CEO at HLS.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with HLS to expand the reach of our therapies to patients throughout Canada who are at risk of cardiovascular disease,” said Sheldon Koenig, President and CEO of Esperion. “This collaboration underscores and supports our commitment to expand global access to our potentially life-saving therapies.”
Details of the Agreement and Financial Terms
Under the terms of the license and distribution agreement, Esperion will grant HLS Therapeutics exclusive commercialization rights to NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in Canada. HLS Therapeutics will be responsible for commercialization, including reimbursement and marketing.
Esperion will receive an upfront payment and be eligible for milestone payments of up to approximately
*NEXLETOL® (bempedoic acid) and NEXLIZET® (bempedoic acid and ezetimibe) are the commercial brand names in the U.S. The brand names in Canada to be confirmed upon approval by Health Canada.
About HLS Therapeutics
Formed in 2015, HLS is a pharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition and commercialization of late-stage development, commercial stage promoted and established branded pharmaceutical products in the North American markets. HLS’s focus is on products that address unmet needs in the treatment of psychiatric disorders and cardiovascular disease. HLS’s management team is composed of seasoned pharmaceutical executives with a strong track record of success in these therapeutic areas and at managing products in each of these lifecycle stages. For more information visit: www.hlstherapeutics.com.
About Esperion Therapeutics
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company focused on bringing new medicines to market that address unmet needs of patients and healthcare professionals. The Company developed and is commercializing the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved oral, once-daily, non-statin medicines for patients who are at risk for cardiovascular disease and are struggling with elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). These medications are supported by the nearly 14,000 patient CLEAR Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial. Esperion continues to build on its success with its next generation program which is focused on developing ATP citrate lyase inhibitors (ACLYi). New insights into the structure and function of ACLYi fully enables rational drug design and the opportunity to develop highly potent and specific inhibitors with allosteric mechanisms.
Esperion continues to evolve into a leading global biopharmaceutical company through commercial execution, international partnerships and collaborations and advancement of its pre-clinical pipeline. For more information, visit esperion.com and follow Esperion on LinkedIn and X.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding marketing strategy and commercialization plans, current and planned operational expenses, future operations, commercial products, clinical development, including the timing, designs and plans for the CLEAR Outcomes study and its results, plans for potential future product candidates, financial condition and outlook, including expected cash runway, and other statements containing the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “suggest,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions. Any express or implied statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause Esperion’s actual results to differ significantly from those projected, including, without limitation, the net sales, profitability, and growth of Esperion’s commercial products, clinical activities and results, supply chain, commercial development and launch plans, the outcomes and anticipated benefits of legal proceedings and settlements, and the risks detailed in Esperion’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Esperion disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, other than to the extent required by law.
Esperion Contact Information:
Investors:
Alina Venezia
investorrelations@esperion.com
(734) 887-3903
Media:
Tiffany Aldrich
corporateteam@esperion.com
(616) 443-8438
FAQ
What are the financial terms of Esperion's (ESPR) partnership with HLS Therapeutics?
What is the market potential for NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in Canada?
Who will handle the commercialization of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in Canada?
What products are included in Esperion's Canadian distribution agreement?
