10:30 AM EDT, 05/20/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Esperion Therapeutics ( ESPR ) and Otsuka Pharmaceutical said Monday that a phase 3 trial in Japan for bempedoic acid as a potential treatment for hypercholesterolemia achieved its primary endpoint.

The preliminary results showed that the percentage change from baseline in LDL cholesterol at week 12, the primary endpoint, was negative 25.25%% in the group receiving bempedoic acid placebo group and negative 3.46% in the placebo group, the companies said.

Based on the trial results, Otsuka intends to submit a new drug application in Japan in the latter half of 2024.

Esperion shares were up 2.1% in recent trading.

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