Esperion Reports Positive Results for Second Phase 1 Study of ETC-642 ANN ARBOR, Michigan, December 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESPR) today announced the completion of a second Phase 1 study of the Company's ETC-642 (RLT Peptide) investigational product candidate. Results of clinical studies completed to date provide evidence that the investigational therapy was safe and well tolerated at dose levels intended for future clinical development. The Phase 1 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 20 patients with stable cardiovascular disease was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose for single intravenous infusions of ETC-642. In an earlier Phase 1 clinical trial, there was evidence of cholesterol mobilisation at dose levels of 3 mg/kg and higher of ETC-642. In this second trial, patients received one of three dose levels (10, 20 or 30 mg/kg) of ETC-642 or placebo and were monitored for 30 days following dosing. Results of the study, together with results of the first clinical trial, provided evidence of safety and tolerability for single infusions of ETC-642 at the dose levels tested. At 30 mg/kg, the highest dose level tested, investigators observed evidence of asymptomatic elevations of liver function tests in a single patient, suggesting that a maximum tolerated dose had been identified. The results from this study were consistent with pre-clinical studies in demonstrating evidence of rapid dose-related cholesterol mobilisation, as well as evidence of increases in HDL-cholesterol levels. John M. Miles, M.D., Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Consultant in Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, served as the study's principal investigator. ETC-642, a complex of a 22-amino acid peptide and phospholipids, is being developed for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). ETC-642 was designed to mimic HDL, the "good" cholesterol, to promote the removal of excess cholesterol and other lipids from artery walls and other tissues and enhance reverse lipid transport. Esperion is working to demonstrate that the peptide component of ETC-642 mimics the biological properties of apolipoproteinA-I (ApoA-I), the major protein in HDL. In June 2003, Esperion initiated a multiple-dose Phase 1 clinical trial of ETC-642 in patients with stable cardiovascular disease to assess potential dose levels and evaluate safety and tolerability. ETC-642 is one of four product candidates in clinical development at Esperion. In November, Esperion announced positive results from a Phase 2 study of ETC-216 (AIM), a product candidate being developed for the treatment of ACS patients. ETC-216 is a human recombinant version of ApoA-I Milano, a variant form of ApoA-I, combined with a phospholipid to form a complex that mimics HDL. Esperion Therapeutics Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. discovers and develops pharmaceutical products for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Esperion intends to commercialise a novel class of drugs that focuses on a new treatment approach called "HDL Therapy," which is based on the Company's understanding of high- density lipoprotein, or HDL, function. HDL is the primary facilitator of the reverse lipid transport, or RLT, pathway by which excess cholesterol and other lipids are removed from artery walls and other tissues and are transported to the liver for elimination from the body. Esperion's goal is to develop drugs that exploit the beneficial functions of HDL within the RLT pathway. Esperion currently has four product candidates in clinical development. Esperion is listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "ESPR." Safe Harbor Statement The information contained in this press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as "hope," "may," "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "require," "intend," "assume" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, reflect management's current expectations, estimations and projections and involve certain factors, such as risks and uncertainties, that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be far different from those suggested by the Company's forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: the Company's ability to successfully execute its business strategies, including entering into strategic partnerships or other transactions; the progress and cost of development of the Company's product candidates; the extent and timing of market acceptance of new products developed by the Company or its competitors; the Company's dependence on third parties to conduct clinical trials for the Company's product candidates; the extent and timing of regulatory approval, as desired or required, for the Company's product candidates; the Company's dependence on licensing arrangements and strategic relationships with third parties; clinical trials; manufacturing; the Company's dependence on patents and proprietary rights; litigation, proceedings, investigations and other disruptions of management's time resulting from the acquisition of the Company's common stock by various persons associated with Scott Sacane; the procurement, maintenance, enforcement and defence of the Company's patents and proprietary rights; competitive conditions in the industry; business cycles affecting the markets in which any of the Company's future products may be sold; extraordinary events and transactions; seeking and consummating business acquisitions, including the diversion of management's attention to the assimilation of the operations and personnel of any acquired business; the timing and extent of the Company's financing needs and the Company's access to funding, including through the equity market, particularly in light of the impact on the market value of the Company's common stock of matters outside of the Company's control, such as trading activities by third parties; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; and economic conditions generally or in various geographic areas. Because all of the foregoing factors are difficult to forecast, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. More detailed information about some of these and other risk factors is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not intend to update any of these factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of these forward-looking statements other than as required under the federal securities laws. Company contact: Amy Cannon Manager, Corporate Communications Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. +1-734-222-1801 acannon@esperion.com Media contact: Bill Berry Berry & Company Public Relations +1-212-253-8881 bberry@berrypr.com Web site: http://www.esperion.com DATASOURCE: Esperion Therapeutics, Inc., company contact: Amy Cannon, Manager, Corporate Communications of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc., +1-734-222-1801, acannon@esperion.com; media contact: Bill Berry of Berry & Company Public Relations, +1-212-253-8881, bberry@berrypr.com

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