Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. announced positive results from a completed Phase 2 clinical trial of ETC-1002 in patients with type 2 diabetes with LDL-C lowering of up to 43% compared to placebo. ETC-1002 therapy was also associated with improvements in control of additional cardiometabolic risk factors in this high-risk, difficult-to-treat patient population. ETC-1002 is an investigational, once-daily, oral small molecule therapy that has been shown to be liver selective for activation of AMP kinase and inhibition of ATP citrate lyase.

This dual mechanism of action has the potential to regulate imbalances in both hepatic lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. In the Phase 2 trial, 60 patients with type 2 diabetes received ETC-1002 or placebo for four weeks in an inpatient facility. In clinical research to date, ETC-1002 has shown an attractive safety profile, significant and consistent LDL-C lowering and beneficial effects on hsCRP, glucose and other cardiometabolic risk factors.

ETC-1002 is currently being studied in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials.