Esperion Showcases New Data from CLEAR Outcomes Highlighting Value of NEXLETOL® (bempedoic acid) at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session 2026

Rhea-AI Summary

Esperion (NASDAQ: ESPR) presented two post-hoc CLEAR Outcomes analyses at ACC.26 (Mar 28-30, 2026) showing clinical benefits of bempedoic acid (NEXLETOL/NEXLIZET). Key findings: a 22% reduced risk of ischemic stroke in statin-intolerant patients and similar MACE risk reduction in patients with autoimmune or inflammatory diseases.

The company highlighted safety considerations including hyperuricemia, gout risk, and a small increased tendon rupture incidence observed in trials.

Positive

• Ischemic stroke risk reduced by 22% in statin-intolerant patients
• AIID subgroup (~10% of 13,970) showed similar MACE benefit as others
• NEXLETOL indicated to reduce MACE in adults unable to take recommended statin therapy

Negative

• Hyperuricemia/gout risk increased with bempedoic acid
• Tendon rupture incidence higher: 1.2% (bempedoic acid) vs 0.9% (placebo) in outcomes trial

Key Figures

Ischemic stroke risk reduction: 22% Stroke events in trial: 293 patients Ischemic stroke proportion: 268 strokes (90%) +5 more

8 metrics

Ischemic stroke risk reduction 22% Bempedoic acid vs placebo in CLEAR Outcomes ischemic stroke analysis

Stroke events in trial 293 patients CLEAR Outcomes fatal or non-fatal stroke events

Ischemic stroke proportion 268 strokes (90%) Proportion of ischemic strokes among all strokes in CLEAR Outcomes

CLEAR Outcomes participants 13,970 participants Total enrollment in CLEAR Outcomes trial

AIID patient share Approximately 10% Participants with autoimmune or inflammatory diseases in CLEAR Outcomes

Tendon rupture rate 0.5% vs 0% Bempedoic acid vs placebo in primary hypercholesterolemia trials

Tendon rupture CVOT 1.2% vs 0.9% Tendon rupture in cardiovascular outcomes trial, bempedoic acid vs placebo

Statin dose limits 20 mg simvastatin, 40 mg pravastatin Maximum recommended doses when used with NEXLIZET or NEXLETOL

Market Reality Check

Price: $2.74 Vol: Volume 2,315,851 is well ...

low vol

$2.74 Last Close

Volume Volume 2,315,851 is well below the 5,549,640 share 20-day average (relative volume 0.42). low

Technical Price $2.74 sits modestly above the 200-day MA of $2.66 and 34.37% below the 52-week high, after rebounding 295.67% off the 52-week low.

Peers on Argus

ESPR fell 3.86% with several pharma peers also down (e.g., AQST -0.99%, SIGA -0....

ESPR fell 3.86% with several pharma peers also down (e.g., AQST -0.99%, SIGA -0.56%, EOLS -2.43%, AKBA -2.19%, ORGO -4.58%). The momentum scanner did not flag a coordinated sector move, suggesting the reaction skewed toward stock-specific dynamics.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 17 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Mar 17	Clinical data preview	Positive	+0.7%	Announced upcoming ACC.26 CLEAR Outcomes analyses for stroke and AIID subgroups.
Mar 16	Guideline update	Positive	+7.6%	Bempedoic acid received multiple Class 1 recommendations in 2026 ACC/AHA guideline.
Mar 10	Earnings release	Positive	-11.2%	Reported strong FY2025 and Q4 revenue growth with detailed financial metrics and guidance.
Mar 03	Acquisition deal	Positive	-11.0%	Announced definitive agreement to acquire Corstasis and Enbumyst™ to expand franchise.
Feb 24	Earnings date set	Neutral	-1.2%	Scheduled Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings release and webcast details.

Pattern Detected

Recent ESPR news often shows strong positive reactions to guideline or clinical visibility, while financial and acquisition updates have coincided with notable drawdowns.

Recent Company History

Over the past month, Esperion has reported several catalysts. On Mar 3, it agreed to acquire Corstasis and Enbumyst™, with the stock down double digits the next day. Q4/FY2025 results on Mar 10 also saw a -11.18% move despite revenue growth. In contrast, ACC/AHA dyslipidemia guideline recognition for bempedoic acid on Mar 16 coincided with a 7.58% gain. A preview of CLEAR Outcomes ACC.26 analyses on Mar 17 brought a modest positive reaction. Today’s detailed CLEAR Outcomes data builds directly on that clinical narrative.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights post‑hoc CLEAR Outcomes analyses showing a 22% reduction in ischemic st...

Analysis

This announcement highlights post‑hoc CLEAR Outcomes analyses showing a 22% reduction in ischemic stroke risk and consistent MACE reduction in high‑risk autoimmune or inflammatory disease patients. The data bolster the clinical narrative behind NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in statin‑intolerant populations, while also detailing safety signals such as tendon rupture and hyperuricemia. Investors may track further guideline updates, broader real‑world use in these subgroups, and how new cardiovascular data interact with Esperion’s recent acquisition and revenue growth trajectory.

Key Terms

ischemic stroke, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), LDL-C, hypercholesterolemia, +1 more

5 terms

ischemic stroke medical

"reduced risk of ischemic stroke for patients taking bempedoic acid"

An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked, cutting off oxygen and nutrients to part of the brain — like a kinked garden hose that stops water flow. It matters to investors because its incidence and outcomes drive demand for drugs, emergency devices, diagnostic tools, rehabilitation services and clinical trials; changes in treatment effectiveness, approvals or costs can materially affect healthcare companies and insurers.

major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) medical

"risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with autoimmune"

Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) is a medical shorthand for a group of the most serious heart- and blood-vessel related outcomes—typically heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death—used together as a single measure in studies and reports. Investors care because MACE rates summarize a therapy’s or device’s real-world safety and effectiveness for preventing life‑threatening events; like a single report card grade, they influence regulatory approval, prescribing, liability risk, and market adoption.

LDL-C medical

"NEXLIZET is indicated to reduce LDL-C in adults with hypercholesterolemia"

LDL-C stands for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the portion of cholesterol carried in the blood by LDL particles that is commonly linked to buildup of plaque in arteries—think of it like sticky debris that can clog pipes. Investors care because changes in LDL-C are a key measure used by regulators and clinicians to judge the effectiveness of cardiovascular drugs and devices, shape insurance coverage, and influence market demand for treatments that lower heart attack and stroke risk.

hypercholesterolemia medical

"reduce LDL-C in adults with hypercholesterolemia, including HeFH."

Hypercholesterolemia is a medical condition where blood contains persistently high levels of cholesterol, a fatty substance that can build up in arteries and raise the risk of heart disease. For investors it matters because it drives demand for treatments, influences healthcare costs and insurance spending, and shapes the commercial outlook for drug makers, medical devices, and public health programs—like a steady customer base for therapies aimed at lowering cholesterol.

tendon rupture medical

"Bempedoic acid is associated with an increased risk of tendon rupture or injury."

A tendon rupture is a complete tear of the tough cord-like tissue that connects a muscle to a bone, like a rope snapping and disconnecting a pulley. For investors, it matters because such injuries can drive demand for medical treatments, surgeries, rehabilitation services, and related drug or device approvals; they can also influence clinical trial outcomes, insurance costs, and revenue forecasts for healthcare companies.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

–  Analysis Demonstrated 22% Reduced Risk of Ischemic Stroke for Patients Taking Bempedoic Acid Compared to Placebo –

– Analysis of CLEAR Outcomes Reports Bempedoic Acid Reduced MACE in High-Risk Patients with Autoimmune or Inflammatory Diseases (AIID) Similarly to Those Without AIID –

ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Esperion (NASDAQ: ESPR) today announced the presentation of two post-hoc analyses from CLEAR Outcomes focused on risk of ischemic stroke and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with autoimmune or inflammatory diseases. These data were presented as moderated poster presentations at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26) which took place March 28-30, 2026, in New Orleans, LA.

“These analyses provide important insights into how bempedoic acid performs in high-risk patient populations,” said Luke Laffin, MD, senior author of the CLEAR Outcomes sub analyses and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. “Patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases face a significantly elevated cardiovascular burden, and these data reinforce that bempedoic acid delivers meaningful reductions in cardiovascular events in this vulnerable group. In addition, when we examine ischemic stroke patients specifically, this analysis shows a clear and clinically relevant reduction in risk for statin intolerant patients. Together, these findings underscore the value of bempedoic acid as an effective, well tolerated therapy for reducing cardiovascular risk across diverse patient populations.”

“These new analyses from CLEAR Outcomes further strengthen the evidence base supporting NEXLETOL as a proven therapy for cardiovascular risk reduction - especially for patients who cannot tolerate statin therapy,” said Sheldon Koenig, President and Chief Executive Officer of Esperion. “The consistency of benefit observed in high-risk populations, including those with autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, highlights the broad clinical relevance of bempedoic acid. We are proud to continue expanding the data that informs treatment decisions and supports the recent incorporation of bempedoic acid into U.S. dyslipidemia guidelines.”

Key data presented at ACC.26

• Bempedoic acid and incidence of stroke among statin-intolerant patients: an analysis of the CLEAR Outcomes trial presented by Carolina Pires Zingano, MD (Cleveland Clinic)
  

Highlights

• • In CLEAR Outcomes, 293 patients had a fatal or non-fatal stroke, 268 (90%) of which were ischemic strokes.
  • Bempedoic acid reduced the risk of ischemic stroke by 22% compared to placebo.

• Bempedoic acid and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with autoimmune or inflammatory diseases: an analysis of the CLEAR Outcomes trial presented by Bernardo Frison Spiazzi, MD (Cleveland Clinic)
  
  Highlights
  • Approximately 10% of the 13,970 participants in CLEAR Outcomes had prior autoimmune and inflammatory diseases (AIID) which further increase risk of MACE compared to those without.
  • Patients with AIID derived a similar clinical benefit with the use of bempedoic acid as those without AIID.

INDICATION
NEXLIZET and NEXLETOL are indicated:

• bempedoic acid, a component of NEXLIZET and NEXLETOL, is indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or coronary revascularization) in adults at increased risk for these events who are unable to take recommended statin therapy (including those not taking a statin).
• as an adjunct to diet and exercise:
  • NEXLIZET is indicated to reduce LDL-C in adults with hypercholesterolemia, including HeFH.
  • NEXLETOL is indicated, in combination with other LDL-C lowering therapies or alone when concomitant LDL-C lowering therapy is not possible, to reduce LDL-C in adults with hypercholesterolemia, including HeFH.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

• NEXLIZET and NEXLETOL are contraindicated in patients with a prior hypersensitivity to bempedoic acid or ezetimibe or any of the excipients. Serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, angioedema, rash, and urticaria have been reported.
• Hyperuricemia: Bempedoic acid, a component of NEXLIZET and NEXLETOL, may increase blood uric acid levels, which may lead to gout. Monitor as clinically indicated and initiate treatment with urate-lowering drugs as appropriate.
• Tendon Rupture: Bempedoic acid is associated with an increased risk of tendon rupture or injury. Tendon rupture occurred in 0.5% of patients treated with bempedoic acid in primary hypercholesterolemia trials, versus 0% on placebo. In the cardiovascular outcomes trial, the rates were 1.2% for bempedoic acid and 0.9% for placebo. Discontinue NEXLIZET or NEXLETOL at the first sign of tendon rupture. Consider alternative therapy in patients who have a history of tendon disorders or tendon rupture.
• The most common adverse reactions in the primary hypercholesterolemia trials of bempedoic acid in ≥2% of patients and greater than placebo were upper respiratory tract infection, muscle spasms, hyperuricemia, back pain, abdominal pain or discomfort, bronchitis, pain in extremity, anemia, and elevated liver enzymes.
• Adverse reactions reported in ≥2% of patients treated with ezetimibe (a component of NEXLIZET) and at an incidence greater than placebo in clinical trials were upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, arthralgia, sinusitis, pain in extremity, fatigue, and influenza.
• The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥3% and greater than placebo) observed with NEXLIZET but not observed in clinical trials of bempedoic acid or ezetimibe, were urinary tract infection, nasopharyngitis, and constipation.
• The most common adverse reactions in the cardiovascular outcomes trial for bempedoic acid, at an incidence of ≥2% and 0.5% greater than placebo, were hyperuricemia, renal impairment, anemia, elevated liver enzymes, muscle spasms, gout, and cholelithiasis.
• Concomitant use of NEXLIZET or NEXLETOL with greater than 20 mg of simvastatin or 40 mg of pravastatin should be avoided due to the potential for increased risk of simvastatin- or pravastatin-related myopathy. Concomitant use with fibrates may increase triglycerides and decrease high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Monitor and adjust therapies as recommended.
• Discontinue NEXLIZET or NEXLETOL when pregnancy is recognized unless the benefits of therapy outweigh the potential risks to the fetus. The benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for NEXLIZET or NEXLETOL and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from NEXLIZET or NEXLETOL or from the underlying maternal condition.
  

Report pregnancies to Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. Adverse Event reporting line at 1-833-377-7633.

About Esperion Therapeutics
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and delivering innovative cardiometabolic and rare/orphan disease therapies. The Company leverages deep domain expertise in ACLY biology to develop and commercialize transformative medicines for patients worldwide. Esperion currently markets two oral, once-daily, non-statin therapies for patients struggling to maintain their low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and are at risk of cardiovascular disease.

With a broad U.S. commercial infrastructure and global approvals across more than 40 countries, Esperion is well positioned to serve as a partner-of-choice for global innovators seeking U.S. market access through acquisition, in-license, co-promotion and revenue share opportunities. In tandem, the Company is advancing its leadership in ACLY biology to build a diversified pipeline of novel product candidates, including treatments for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and renal diseases. 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 and business development plans, current and planned operational expenses, expected profitability, 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 profitability, 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, business development, 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 did Esperion announce about ischemic stroke risk for ESPR at ACC.26 on March 30, 2026?

The analysis reported a 22% reduction in ischemic stroke risk for statin-intolerant patients. According to the company, this was observed in a post-hoc CLEAR Outcomes analysis of stroke events presented at ACC.26, supporting benefit in that subgroup.

How did bempedoic acid perform in patients with autoimmune or inflammatory diseases in CLEAR Outcomes (ESPR)?

Patients with AIID (~10% of trial) derived a similar MACE benefit from bempedoic acid as those without AIID. According to the company, subgroup analysis showed comparable reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in this high-risk group.

What safety signals did Esperion highlight for NEXLETOL/NEXLIZET in the ACC.26 presentations?

Key safety issues include hyperuricemia, gout, and tendon rupture risk noted in trials. According to the company, tendon rupture rates were modestly higher and clinicians should monitor uric acid and tendon symptoms.

Does Esperion (ESPR) claim NEXLETOL reduces major adverse cardiovascular events for statin-intolerant adults?

Yes, NEXLETOL is indicated to reduce the risk of MACE in adults unable to take recommended statin therapy. According to the company, bempedoic acid showed cardiovascular risk reductions in the CLEAR Outcomes program.

Where and when were Esperion's CLEAR Outcomes sub-analyses on ESPR presented?

The analyses were presented as moderated poster sessions at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26), March 28–30, 2026, in New Orleans. According to the company, both presentations reported the subgroup results described above.