Positive Ph II data for Esperion's ETC-216

Promising new data have been published for USA-based EsperionTherapeutics' anti-atherosclerosis drug, ETC-216, in the November 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. ETC-216 mimics the biological properties of apolipoprotein A-1, a major component of high-density lipoproteins which promote the removal of cholesterol from arteries and other tissues through a process known as reverse lipid transport.

In the Phase II trial, 47 patients with acute coronary syndromes received five weekly intravenous infusions of either placebo (n=11), 15 mg/kg ETC-216 (n=21) or 45mg/kg ETC-216 (n=15). Plaque volume was examined before the start of treatment and within two weeks of the final infusion, using intravascular ultrasound.

Findings released showed a statistically-significant reduction (p=0.02) in percent plaque (atheroma) volume in the combined ETC-216 treatment groups, compared to baseline values taken before initiation of therapy. Furthermore, statistically-significant improvements were seen for other measures, such as total atheroma volume and maximum atheroma thickness in the ETC-216 treated patients. The agent was generally well-tolerated, with overall adverse event rates being similar in all three groups, noted the company.