SEC Filing | Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

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espr-20210930

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q


☒			QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021


☐			TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission file number: 001-35986

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware						26-1870780
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)						(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

3891 Ranchero Drive, Suite 150

Ann Arbor, MI 48108

(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(734) 887-3903

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

ESPR

NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer o

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

☐

Emerging growth company

☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No x

As of November 1, 2021, there were 29,077,357 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding.

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Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

INDEX


			Page

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

Condensed Balance Sheets at September 30, 2021 a nd December 31, 2020			3
Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020			4
Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020			5
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020			7
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements			8

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			26

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			37

Item 4. Controls and Procedures			37

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings			38

Item 1A. Risk Factors			38

Item 6. Exhibits			39

Signatures			41

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Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Condensed Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share data)


	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	103,672	$	304,962

Accounts receivable	21,710		12,388
Prepaid clinical development costs	986		844
Inventories, net	33,972		16,136
Other prepaid and current assets	10,328		11,566
Total current assets	170,668		345,896

Restricted cash	50,000		—
Property and equipment, net	817		1,276
Right of use operating lease assets	3,715		6,030
Intangible assets	56		56
Total assets	$	225,256	$	353,258

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	20,745	$	51,975
Accrued clinical development costs	3,746		7,663
Other accrued liabilities	34,476		24,790
Revenue interest liability	14,048		5,392
Deferred revenue from collaborations	3,068		1,662
Operating lease liabilities	2,402		2,587
Total current liabilities	78,485		94,069

Convertible notes, net of issuance costs	272,508		179,367
Revenue interest liability	233,520		171,212
Operating lease liabilities	1,313		3,454
Deferred revenue from collaborations	845		—
Other long-term liabilities	1,290		1,290
Total liabilities	587,961		449,392
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized and no shares issued or outstanding as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020	—		—
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 120,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020; 28,794,567 shares issued at September 30, 2021 and 27,910,366 shares issued at December 31, 2020	27		26
Additional paid-in capital	733,524		797,655
Treasury stock, at cost; 1,994,198 shares at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020	(54,998)		(54,998)

Accumulated deficit	(1,041,258)		(838,817)
Total stockholders’ deficit	(362,705)		(96,134)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	$	225,256	$	353,258

See accompanying notes to the condensed financial statements.

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Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)


	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2021		2020		2021		2020
Revenues:
Product sales, net		$	10,895	$	3,331	$	27,855	$	4,798
Collaboration revenue		3,514		502		35,191		213,111
Total Revenues		14,409		3,833		63,046		217,909

Operating expenses:
Cost of goods sold		5,558		275		9,142		704
Research and development		25,331		35,283		78,359		104,972
Selling, general and administrative		39,265		48,826		146,647		138,060
Total operating expenses		70,154		84,384		234,148		243,736

Loss from operations		(55,745)		(80,551)		(171,102)		(25,827)

Interest expense		(13,654)		(4,928)		(32,923)		(13,739)
Other income, net		13		42		36		491
Net loss		$	(69,386)	$	(85,437)	$	(203,989)	$	(39,075)

Net loss per common share - basic and diluted		$	(2.62)	$	(3.07)	$	(7.78)	$	(1.41)

Weighted-average shares outstanding - basic and diluted		26,455,209		27,830,281		26,225,730		27,672,325

Other comprehensive loss:
Unrealized loss on investments		$	—	$	—	$	—	$	(23)
Comprehensive loss		$	(69,386)	$	(85,437)	$	(203,989)	$	(39,098)

See accompanying notes to the condensed financial statements.

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Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

(in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)


	Common Stock			Additional Paid-In Capital		Accumulated Deficit		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Treasury Stock		Total Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
	Shares	Amount
Balance at December 31, 2019	27,497,911	$	27	$	715,166	$	(695,266)	$	23	$	—	$	19,950
Exercise of stock options	40,133	1		1,013		—		—		—		1,014
Vesting of restricted stock units	10,089	—		—		—		—		—		—
Stock-based compensation	—	—		7,053		—		—		—		7,053
Other comprehensive loss	—	—		—		—		(14)		—		(14)
Net loss	—	—		—		(78,249)		—		—		(78,249)
Balance at March 31, 2020	27,548,133	$	28	$	723,232	$	(773,515)	$	9	$	—	$	(50,246)
Exercise of stock options	160,024	—		3,738		—		—		—		3,738
Vesting of restricted stock units	43,498	—		—		—		—		—		—
Stock-based compensation	—	—		7,395		—		—		—		7,395
Other comprehensive loss	—	—		—		—		(9)		—		(9)
Net income	—	—		—		124,611		—		—		124,611
Balance at June 30, 2020	27,751,655	$	28	$	734,365	$	(648,904)	$	—	$	—	$	85,489
Exercise of stock options	70,578	—		1,644		—		—		—		1,644
Vesting of restricted stock units	34,065	—		—		—		—		—		—
Stock-based compensation	—	—		7,264		—		—		—		7,264

Net loss	—	—		—		(85,437)		—		—		(85,437)
Balance at September 30, 2020	27,856,298	$	28	$	743,273	$	(734,341)	$	—	$	—	$	8,960

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	Common Stock			Additional Paid-In Capital		Accumulated Deficit		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Treasury Stock		Total Stockholders' Deficit
	Shares	Amount
Balance at December 31, 2020	25,916,168	$	26	$	797,655	$	(838,817)	$	—	$	(54,998)	$	(96,134)
Adoption of new accounting pronouncement	—	—		(93,475)		1,548		—		—		(91,927)
Balance at January 1, 2021	25,916,168	$	26	$	704,180	$	(837,269)	$	—	$	(54,998)	$	(188,061)
Exercise of stock options	172,268	—		2,668		—		—		—		2,668
Vesting of restricted stock units	43,465	—		—		—		—		—		—
Vesting of ESPP Shares	50,818	—		1,183		—		—		—		1,183
Stock-based compensation	—	—		5,751		—		—		—		5,751

Net loss	—	—		—		(90,935)		—		—		(90,935)
Balance at March 31, 2021	26,182,719	$	26	$	713,782	$	(928,204)	$	—	$	(54,998)	$	(269,394)
Exercise of stock options	10,477	—		168		—		—		—		168
Vesting of restricted stock units	81,139	—		—		—		—		—		—
Stock-based compensation	—	—		8,584		—		—		—		8,584
Net loss	—	—		—		(43,668)		—		—		(43,668)
Balance at June 30, 2021	26,274,335	$	26	$	722,534	$	(971,872)	$	—	$	(54,998)	$	(304,310)
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs	363,061	1		4,206		—		—		—		4,207
Exercise of stock options	45,996	—		375		—		—		—		375
Vesting of restricted stock units	34,581	—		—		—		—		—		—
Vesting of ESPP Shares	82,396	—		912		—		—		—		912
Stock-based compensation	—	—		5,497		—		—		—		5,497
Net loss	—	—		—		(69,386)		—		—		(69,386)
Balance at September 30, 2021	26,800,369	$	27	$	733,524	$	(1,041,258)	$	—	$	(54,998)	$	(362,705)

See accompanying notes to the condensed financial statements.

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Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(unaudited)


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2021		2020
Operating activities
Net loss		$	(203,989)	$	(39,075)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation expense		459		387
Accretion of premiums and discounts on investments		—		(97)
Amortization of debt issuance costs		1,214		—

Non-cash interest expense related to the revenue interest liability		23,310		13,739

Stock-based compensation expense		19,832		21,712
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(9,322)		(5,787)
Prepaids and other assets		1,096		(2,202)
Deferred revenue		2,251		(490)
Inventories		(17,836)		(9,061)
Other long-term liabilities		—		1,710
Accounts payable		(30,833)		(11,326)
Other accrued liabilities		7,715		13,863
Net cash used in operating activities		(206,103)		(16,627)

Investing activities
Purchases of investments		—		(4,420)
Proceeds from sales/maturities of investments		—		39,145
Purchase of property and equipment		—		(693)
Net cash provided by investing activities		—		34,032

Financing activities
Proceeds from revenue interest liability, net of issuance costs		49,917		25,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs		4,388		—
Proceeds from exercise of common stock options		3,211		6,395
Payments on revenue interest liability		(2,263)		(110)
Payment of debt issuance costs		(440)		—
Net cash provided by financing activities		54,813		31,285

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(151,290)		48,690
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		304,962		167,058
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period		$	153,672	$	215,748
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Common stock issuance costs not yet paid		$	181	$	—
Purchase of property and equipment not yet paid		—		148
Non cash right of use asset		10		3

See accompanying notes to the condensed financial statements.

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Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements

(unaudited)

1. The Company and Basis of Presentation

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. ("the Company”) is the Lipid Management Company, a pharmaceutical company singularly focused on developing and commercializing affordable, oral, once-daily, non-statin medicines for the treatment of patients struggling with elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol ("LDL-C"). The Esperion team of lipid experts are dedicated to lowering bad cholesterol through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines and their combinations with established medicines. The Company's first two products were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), European Medicines Agency ("EMA") and Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products ("Swissmedic") in 2020. Bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets are oral, once-daily, non-statin, LDL-C lowering medicines for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease ("ASCVD") or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia ("HeFH").

On April 26, 2021, the Company entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd ("DS"). Pursuant to the agreement, the Company granted DS exclusive development and commercialization rights to bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil, Macao, Cambodia and Myanmar (collectively the "DS Territory"). The agreement allows for potential expansion across geographies including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Yemen, Colombia and other Latin American countries. Except for certain development activities in South Korea and Taiwan, DS will be responsible for development and commercialization in these territories. The Company received an upfront cash payment of $30.0 million in May 2021 and is eligible to receive up to an additional $175.0 million in sales milestones. The Company will also receive tiered royalties ranging from 5 percent to 20 percent on net sales in the DS Territory. Refer to Note 3 "Collaborations with Third Parties" for further information.

On April 26, 2021, the Company entered into Amendment No. 2 (the “RIPA Amendment”) to the Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement with Eiger III SA LLC (“Oberland”), an affiliate of Oberland Capital LLC, as agent for the purchaser parties thereto dated as of June 26, 2019 (as amended by the Amendment No. 1 dated as of November 9, 2020, the “RIPA”). Pursuant to the RIPA Amendment, Oberland waived the original trailing six-month world-wide net sales condition to the third installment payment under the RIPA and released the final $50 million payment payable to the Company under the terms of the RIPA. The Company and Oberland also agreed to amend additional terms of the RIPA and the related Security Agreement, which are discussed further in Note 8 "Liability Related to the Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement."

On October 18, 2021, the Company announced its plan to align operational and expense structure to better enable future growth for its two first-in-class oral medicines, NEXLETOL® and NEXLIZET®, and prioritize its investment in the CLEAR Outcomes trial. The Company reduced operational expense across its organization through a corporate workforce reduction of approximately 40% and through targeted program savings. The Company focused its commercialization efforts on an optimized blend of focused outreach including a streamlined sales force, directed to targeted cardiologists and primary care physicians, and a suite of digital initiatives designed to increase awareness and utilization of its medicines in appropriate patients. Refer to Note 16 "Subsequent Events" for further information.

The Company's primary activities since incorporation have been conducting research and development activities, including nonclinical, preclinical and clinical testing, performing business and financial planning, recruiting personnel, and raising capital. The Company received approval by the FDA in February 2020 to commercialize NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in the U.S., and accordingly commenced principal operations on March 30, 2020 with the commercialization of NEXLETOL. The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties which include the need to successfully commercialize its products, research, develop, and clinically test therapeutic products; obtain regulatory approvals for its products; expand its management, commercial and scientific staff; and finance its operations with an ultimate goal of achieving profitable operations.

The Company has sustained annual operating losses since inception and expects such losses to continue over the foreseeable future. The Company's ability to successfully launch, commercialize and generate revenue from NEXLETOL, NEXLIZET, NILEMDO and NUSTENDI has been and may continue to be adversely affected by the economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the Company’s history of operating losses and the uncertainty around the ongoing impact of COVID-19 management has initiated certain cost optimization measures, including a reduction in force of approximately 40% of its workforce across the United States, or approximately 170 employees, to align operational and expense structure to better enable future growth for its approved products and to prioritize its investment in the CLEAR Outcomes trial. After taking into account the corporate workforce reduction and other targeted program savings, and excluding the $50.0 million of restricted cash (which could remain restricted until the Company's secured obligations under the RIPA are satisfied), the Company expects that its current cash runway allows it to operate into the second quarter of 2022. The Company

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will implement additional cost reduction measures as needed if additional collaboration or capital funding is not available. Additionally, management may continue to fund operations and advance the development of the Company's products and product candidates through a combination of collaborations with third parties, strategic alliances, licensing arrangements, permitted debt financings, permitted royalty-based financings, and permitted private and public equity offerings or through other sources.

If adequate funds are not available, the Company may not be able to continue the development of its current products or future product candidates, or to commercialize its current or future product candidates, if approved.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed interim financial statements are unaudited and were prepared by the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In the opinion of management, the Company has made all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation. Certain information and disclosures normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, but that is not required for interim reporting purposes, have been condensed or omitted. These condensed interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, and the notes thereto, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full year, any other interim periods or any future year or period.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, net revenues, expenses and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of legally restricted amounts held by financial institutions pursuant to contractual arrangements. Pursuant to the Amendment and Waiver (as defined below), the Company deposited $50.0 million in a deposit account that is subject to a block account control agreement. Oberland will have sole control over the funds deposited in the account and such funds may be withdrawn only with the consent of Oberland. Refer to Note 8 "Liability Related to the Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement" for further information on the Amendment and Waiver.

Concentration of Risk

The Company enters into a limited number of distribution agreements with distributors and specialty pharmacies. The Company's net product sales are with these customers. As of September 30, 2021, ten customers accounted for all of the Company's net trade receivables and as of December 31, 2020 eight customers accounted for all the Company's net trade receivables.

Revenue Recognition

In accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, the Company recognizes revenue when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for the goods or services provided. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements within the scope of ASC 606, the Company performs the following five steps: identify the contracts with a customer; identify the performance obligations in the contract; determine the transaction price; allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and recognize revenue when or as the entity satisfies a performance obligation. At contract inception the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when or as the performance obligation is satisfied. The Company derives revenue through two primary sources: collaboration revenue and product sales. Collaboration revenue consists of the collaboration payments to the Company for collaboration arrangements outside of the United States for the development,

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manufacturing and commercialization, including royalties, of the Company's product candidates by the Company's partners and product sales consists of sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET.

a.Collaboration Revenue

The Company has entered into agreements related to its activities to develop, manufacture, and commercialize its product candidates. The Company earns collaboration revenue in connection with a collaboration agreement to develop and/or commercialize product candidates where the Company deems the collaborator to be the customer. Revenue is recognized when (or as) the Company satisfies performance obligations under the terms of a contract. Depending on the terms of the arrangement, the Company may defer the recognition of all or a portion of the consideration received as the performance obligations are satisfied.

The collaboration agreements may require the Company to deliver various rights, services, and/or goods across the entire life cycle of a product or product candidate. In an agreement involving multiple goods or services promised to be transferred to a customer, the Company must assess, at the inception of the contract, whether each promise represents a separate performance obligation (i.e., is "distinct"), or whether such promises should be combined as a single performance obligation.

The terms of the agreement typically include consideration to be provided to the Company in the form of non-refundable up-front payments, development milestones, sales milestones, and royalties on sales of products within a respective territory. The Company recognizes regulatory and approval milestones consideration when it is probable that a future reversal is unlikely to occur. For sales based milestones and royalties based on sales of product in a territory, the Company applies the sales-based royalty exception in ASC 606-10-55-65 to all of these milestones and royalties.

At the inception of the contract, the transaction price reflects the amount of consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for transferring promised goods or services to its customer. In the arrangement where the Company satisfies performance obligation(s) during the regulatory phase over time, the Company recognizes collaboration revenue typically using an input method on the basis of regulatory costs incurred relative to the total expected cost which determines the extent of progress toward completion. The Company reviews the estimate of the transaction price and the total expected cost each period and makes revisions to such estimates as necessary. Under contracted supply agreements with collaborators, the Company, through its third party contract manufacturing partners, may manufacture and supply quantities of active pharmaceutical ingredient (“API”) or bulk tablets reasonably required by collaboration partners for the development or sale of licensed products in their respective territory. The Company recognizes revenue when the collaboration partner has obtained control of the API or bulk tablets. The Company records the costs related to the supply agreement in cost of goods sold on the condensed statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

Under the Company's collaboration agreements, product sales and cost of sales may be recorded by the Company's collaborators as they are deemed to be the principal in the transaction. The Company receives royalties from the commercialization of such products, and records its share of the variable consideration, representing a percentage of net product sales, as collaboration revenue in the period in which such underlying sales occur and costs are incurred by the collaborator.

b.Product Sales, Net

On February 21, 2020, the Company announced that the FDA approved NEXLETOL as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with HeFH or established ASCVD who require additional lowering of LDL-C. On February 26, 2020, the Company announced that the FDA approved NEXLIZET as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with HeFH or established ASCVD who require additional lowering of LDL-C. On March 30, 2020, NEXLETOL was commercially available in the U.S. through prescription and on June 4, 2020, NEXLIZET was commercially available in the U.S. through prescription. Net product sales totaled $10.9 million and $27.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and $3.3 million and $4.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

The Company sells NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET to wholesalers in the U.S and, in accordance with ASC 606, recognizes revenue at the point in time when the customer is deemed to have obtained control of the product. The customer is deemed to have obtained control of the product at the time of physical receipt of the product at the customers’ distribution facilities, or free on board (“FOB”) destination, the terms of which are designated in the contract.

Product sales are recorded at the net selling price, which includes estimates of variable consideration for which reserves are established for (a) rebates and chargebacks, (b) co-pay assistance programs, (c) distribution fees, (d) product returns, and (e) other discounts. Where appropriate, these estimates take into consideration a range of possible outcomes which are probability-

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weighted for relevant factors such as current contractual and statutory requirements, and forecasted customer buying and payment patterns. Overall, these reserves reflect the Company's best estimates of the amount of consideration to which it is entitled based on the terms of the applicable contract. The amount of variable consideration may be constrained and is included in the net sales price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur in a future period. Given the early stage of the Company’s commercial operations it has provided constraint of its variable consideration due to its potential consumption trends. Actual amounts of consideration ultimately received may differ from the Company's estimates. If actual results in the future vary from estimates, the Company adjusts these estimates, which would affect net product revenue and earnings in the period such variances become known.

Liabilities for co-pay assistance, expected product returns, rebates, and distributor fees are classified as “Other accrued liabilities” in the condensed balance sheets. Discounts, such as prompt pay discounts, and chargebacks are recorded as a reduction to trade accounts receivable in the condensed balance sheets.

Forms of Variable Consideration

Rebates and Chargebacks: The Company estimates reductions to product sales for Public Health Service Institutions, such as Medicaid, Medicare and Veterans' Administration ("VA") programs, as well as certain other qualifying federal and state government programs, and other group purchasing organizations. The Company estimates these reductions based upon the Company's contracts with government agencies and other organizations, statutorily defined discounts and estimated payor mix. These organizations purchase directly from the Company's wholesalers at a discount and the wholesalers charge the Company back the difference between the wholesaler price and the discounted price. The Company's liability for Medicaid rebates consists of estimates for claims that a state will make for a current quarter. The Company's reserve for this discounted pricing is based on expected sales to qualified healthcare providers and the chargebacks that customers have already claimed.

Co-pay assistance: Eligible patients who have commercial insurance may receive assistance from the Company to reduce the patient's out of pocket costs. The Company will buy down the difference between the amount of the eligible patient's co-pay when the drug is purchased at the pharmacy at a determined price. Liabilities for co-pay assistance are calculated by actual program participation from third-party administrators.

Distribution Fees: The Company has written contracts with its customers that include terms for distribution fees and costs for inventory management. The Company estimates and records distribution fees due to its customers based on gross sales.

Product Returns: The Company generally offers a right of return based on the product’s expiration date and certain spoilage and damaged instances. The Company estimates the amount of product sales that may be returned and records the estimate as a reduction of product sales in the period the related product sales is recognized. The Company’s estimates for expected returns are based primarily on an ongoing analysis of sales information and visibility into the inventory remaining in the distribution channel.

Discounts: The Company provides product discounts, such as prompt pay discounts, to its customers. The Company estimates cash discounts based on terms in negotiated contracts and the Company’s expectations regarding future payment patterns.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value and recognized on a first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method. The Company uses standard cost to determine the cost basis for inventory. Inventory is capitalized based on when future economic benefit is expected to be realized. The Company began capitalizing inventory upon receiving FDA approval for NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET on February 21, 2020 and February 26, 2020, respectively. Prior to the FDA approval of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET, expenses associated with the manufacturing of the Company's products were recorded as research and development expense.

The Company analyzes its inventory levels on a periodic basis to determine if any inventory is at risk for expiration prior to sale or has a cost basis that is greater than its estimated future net realizable value. Any adjustments are recognized through cost of goods sold in the period in which they are incurred.

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Recently Implemented Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) (“ASU 2020-06”). This ASU simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments by removing the separation models for convertible debt with cash conversion features and convertible instruments with a beneficial conversion feature, which requires the fair value of the embedded conversion feature of convertible instruments be allocated to equity. Under ASU 2020-06, a convertible debt instrument with those features will generally be reported as a single liability at its amortized cost with no separate accounting for the embedded conversion features in equity. The adoption of this ASU resulted in the reclassification of the portion of the Company's convertible notes from equity to debt, which also reduces reported interest expense and increases reported net income. ASU 2020-06 requires the application of the if-converted method when calculating diluted earnings per share, eliminating the Company’s ability to use the treasury stock method when certain conditions are met. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company early adopted this standard as of January 1, 2021 which resulted in a net increase in the convertible notes of approximately $92.0 million, an adjustment to accumulated deficit of $1.5 million, and a reduction to additional paid-in capital of $93.5 million. The tax impact of the adoption was not material.

There have been no other material changes to the significant accounting policies previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

3. Collaborations with Third Parties

DSE Agreement Terms

On January 2, 2019, the Company entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH ("DSE"). Pursuant to the agreement, the Company granted DSE exclusive commercialization rights to bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets in the European Economic Area and Switzerland (“DSE Territory”). DSE will be responsible for commercialization in the DSE Territory. The Company remains responsible for clinical development, regulatory and manufacturing activities for the licensed products globally, including in the DSE Territory.

Pursuant to the agreement, the consideration consists of a $150.0 million upfront cash payment as well as $150.0 million cash payment to the Company upon first commercial sales in the DSE Territory. The Company also is responsible to supply DSE with certain manufacturing supply of the API or bulk tablets. The Company is also eligible to receive a substantial additional regulatory milestone payment upon the grant of the marketing authorisation in the European Union for the CV risk reduction label, depending on the range of relative risk reduction in the CLEAR Outcomes study. In addition, the Company is eligible to receive additional sales milestone payments related to total net sales achievements for DSE in the DSE Territory. Finally, the Company will receive tiered fifteen percent (15%) to twenty-five percent (25%) royalties on net DSE Territory sales.

The agreement calls for both parties to participate in a Joint Collaboration Committee (the “DSE JCC”). The DSE JCC is comprised of executive management from each company and the Company will lead in all aspects related to development and DSE will lead in all aspects related to commercialization in the DSE Territory.

Agreement Terms Amendment

On June 18, 2020, the Company entered into an amendment to the license and collaboration agreement with DSE, dated as of January 2, 2019. In June 2020, the Company completed the transfer of the MAAs for NILEMDO® and NUSTENDI®. Pursuant to the terms of the amendment, DSE paid the Company the second $150.0 million milestone based on completion of the NUSTENDI MAA transfer rather than the first product sale in the EU, as previously agreed. Additionally, the Company and DSE have agreed to expand the DSE Territory, or the territory in which DSE has exclusive commercialization rights to NILEMDO and NUSTENDI to include Turkey. DSE's designated affiliate in Turkey will be solely responsible, at its sole cost and expense, for all regulatory matters relating to such products in Turkey, including obtaining regulatory approval for such products in Turkey.

Collaboration Revenue

The Company considered the guidance under ASC 606 and concluded that the agreement was in the scope of ASC 606. The Company concluded that the upfront payment of $150.0 million should be included in the transaction price and related to

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the following performance obligations under the agreement: 1) the license to the Company’s intellectual property and 2) the obligation to provide ongoing regulatory and development activities. The Company used the adjusted market assessment approach in determining the standalone selling price of the Company’s intellectual property and the expected cost plus margin approach in determining the standalone selling price of the Company’s obligation to provide ongoing regulatory and development activities. In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recognized approximately $1.6 million, related to the on-going performance obligation for the ongoing regulatory efforts related to the MAA in the DSE Territory, which was transferred to DSE in June 2020.

In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recognized the $150.0 million milestone as collaboration revenue based on the successful transfer of the NUSTENDI MAA.

In addition, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recognized collaboration revenue of approximately $3.3 million and $6.9 million related to royalty revenue from DSE following their European launch of NILEMDO and NUSTENDI as well as the sales of bulk tablets to DSE pursuant to the supply agreement that was executed with DSE. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recognized collaboration revenue of $0.5 million and $1.5 million related to the sales of bulk tablets of NILEMDO and NUSTENDI to DSE.

All remaining future potential milestone amounts were not included in the transaction price, as they were all determined to be fully constrained following the concepts of ASC 606 due to the fact that such amounts hinge on development activities, regulatory approvals and sales-based milestones. Additionally, the Company expects that any consideration related to sales-based milestones will be recognized when the subsequent sales occur.

Otsuka Agreement Terms

On April 17, 2020, the Company entered into the Otsuka Agreement with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Otsuka"). Pursuant to the Otsuka Agreement, the Company granted Otsuka exclusive development and commercialization rights to NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in Japan. Otsuka will be responsible for all development, regulatory, and commercialization activities in Japan. In addition, Otsuka will fund all clinical development costs associated with the program in Japan.

Pursuant to the agreement, the consideration consists of a $60.0 million upfront cash payment and the Company will be eligible to receive additional payments of up to $450.0 million if certain regulatory and commercial milestones are achieved by Otsuka. The potential future milestone payments include up to $20.0 million upon first JNDA submissions in the Otsuka Territory, up to $70.0 million upon the first NHI Price Listing for NEXLETOL in the Otsuka Territory, and up to $50.0 million upon the achievement of the primary major adverse cardiovascular events (“MACE”) in the CLEAR Outcomes study and the CV risk reduction rate on the U.S. label, depending on the range of relative risk reduction in the CLEAR Outcomes study. In addition, the Company is eligible to receive additional sales milestone payments up to $310.0 million related to total net sales achievements for Otsuka in Japan. Finally, the Company will receive tiered fifteen percent (15%) to thirty percent (30%) royalties on net sales in Japan.

The agreement calls for both parties to participate in a Joint Collaboration Committee (the "Otsuka JCC"). The Otsuka JCC is comprised of executive management from each company and Otsuka will lead in all aspects related to development and commercialization in the Otsuka Territory.

Collaboration Revenue

The Company considered the guidance under ASC 606 and concluded that the agreement was in the scope of ASC 606. The Company did not have any collaboration revenue from the Otsuka Agreement during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recognized $60.0 million of collaboration revenue related to the $60.0 million upfront payment.

All future potential milestone amounts were not included in the transaction price, as they were all determined to be fully constrained following the concepts of ASC 606 due to the fact that such amounts hinge on development activities, regulatory approvals and sales-based milestones. Additionally, the Company expects that any consideration related to royalties and sales-based milestones will be recognized when the subsequent sales occur.

The Company has not yet recognized any revenue for milestone payments as the related regulatory and commercial milestones have not yet been achieved.

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DS Agreement Terms

On April 26, 2021, the Company entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited ("DS Agreement"). Pursuant to the DS Agreement, the Company granted DS exclusive rights to develop and commercialize bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet (the "Products") in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil, Macao, Cambodia and Myanmar (collectively the "DS Territory"). The agreement allows for potential expansion across geographies including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Yemen, Colombia and other Latin American countries. Except for certain development activities in South Korea and Taiwan, DS will be responsible development and commercialization in these territories. In addition, DS will fund all development costs associated with the program in the DS Territory.

Pursuant to the agreement, the consideration consists of a $30.0 million upfront cash payment that is non-refundable, non-reimbursable and non-creditable. The Company will be eligible to receive additional one-time payments of up to $175.0 million if certain commercial milestones are achieved by DS. Also, the Company will receive tiered royalties of five percent (5%) to twenty percent (20%) of net sales in the DS Territory.

The agreement requires the parties to establish a joint collaboration committee (the "Joint Collaboration Committee" or "JCC"). The Joint Collaboration Committee is composed of six (6) members, with each Party contributing three (3) representatives each who are employees of such Party with main responsibility of overseeing the Development and Commercialization activities relating to the Licensed Products in the Field in the DS Territory and other responsibilities as stated in the Agreement.

Collaboration Revenue

The Company considered the guidance under ASC 606 and concluded that the agreement was in the scope of ASC 606. The Company concluded that the upfront payment of $30.0 million should be included in the transaction price and related to the following performance obligations under the agreement: 1) the license to the Company’s intellectual property and 2) the obligation to provide ongoing development activities. The Company used the adjusted market assessment approach in determining the standalone selling price of the Company’s intellectual property and the expected cost plus margin approach in determining the standalone selling price of the Company’s obligation to provide ongoing development activities. Accordingly, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recognized $0.2 million and $28.3 million of collaboration revenue, respectively, related to the $30.0 million upfront payment. The $28.3 million relates to the performance obligations for the license to the Company’s intellectual property and a portion of ongoing regulatory and development activities conducted during the period ended September 30, 2021, in the amounts of $28.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively. The remaining $1.7 million of the upfront payment was deferred as of September 30, 2021 due to an on-going performance obligation related to the developmental activities in South Korea and Taiwan. This deferred revenue will be recognized ratably over the period leading up to the completion of these developmental activities.

Other Agreements

During December 2020, the Company entered into a licensing agreement with Serometrix to in-license a series of early stage compounds known as scaffolds related to its oral, small molecule PCSK9 inhibitor program. PCSK9 is an enzyme responsible for regulating LDL receptors. PCSK9 inhibitors stop LDL receptors from being broken down, increasing the number of LDL receptors present to remove cholesterol from the blood. The agreement allows the Company use of the PCSK9 compounds, which were patented by Serometrix prior to the licensing agreement, to perform further research and development with the goal of developing a small molecule oral PCSK9 inhibitor that can be taken as a tablet.

In exchange for these rights, the Company agreed to pay Serometrix an upfront payment, milestone payments and royalties on net sales of licensed products under the agreement. The Company is obligated to make milestone payments to Serometrix upon the achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercialization milestones. The development milestone payments due under the agreement depend on the licensed product being developed. As part of the agreement, the Company made an upfront cash payment of $12.5 million in December 2020, which was recorded to research and development expense, to Serometrix, with payments in future years tied to specific milestones. The Company has also agreed to pay tiered royalties based on net sales of all products licensed under the agreement of mid-single-digit to low double-digit percentages.

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4. Inventories, net

Inventories, net consist of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Raw materials	$	30,282	$	13,788
Work in process	1,302		2,028
Finished goods	2,388		320
	$	33,972	$	16,136

5. Commitments and Contingencies

On January 12, 2016, a purported stockholder of the Company filed a putative class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, against the Company and Tim Mayleben, captioned Kevin L. Dougherty v. Esperion Therapeutics, Inc., et al. (No. 16-cv-10089). The lawsuit alleges that the Company and Mr. Mayleben violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and SEC Rule 10b-5 by allegedly failing to disclose in an August 17, 2015, public statement that the FDA would require a cardiovascular outcomes trial before approving the Company’s lead product candidate. The lawsuit seeks, among other things, compensatory damages in connection with an allegedly inflated stock price between August 18, 2015, and September 28, 2015, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. On May 20, 2016, an amended complaint was filed in the lawsuit and on July 5, 2016, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On December 27, 2016, the court granted the Company’s motion to dismiss with prejudice and entered judgment in the Company’s favor. On January 24, 2017, the plaintiffs in this lawsuit filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment. In May 2017, the court denied the plaintiff’s motion to alter or amend the judgment. In May 2017, the court denied the plaintiff’s motion to alter or amend the judgment. On June 19, 2017, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and on September 14, 2017, they filed their opening brief in support of the appeal. The appeal was fully briefed on December 7, 2017, and it was argued before the Sixth Circuit on March 15, 2018. On September 27, 2018, the Sixth Circuit issued an opinion in which it reversed the district court’s dismissal and remanded for further proceedings. On October 11, 2018, the Company filed a petition for rehearing en banc and, on October 23, 2018, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals directed plaintiffs to respond to that petition. On December 3, 2018, the Sixth Circuit denied the Company’s petition for en banc rehearing, and on December 11, 2018, the case was returned to the federal district court by mandate from the Sixth Circuit. On December 26, 2018, the Company filed an answer to the amended complaint, and on March 28, 2019, the Company filed its amended answer to the amended complaint. On September 15, 2020, the Company filed a motion for summary judgment, and the plaintiffs filed a motion for partial summary judgment, and on October 23, 2020, the parties filed oppositions to both motions for summary judgment. On November 20, 2020, the Company and plaintiffs filed replies in support of their respective motions. On March 12, 2021, the parties agreed to a settlement in principle of the securities class action, and on April 26, 2021, the parties entered into a stipulation of settlement to resolve all legal claims, in which defendants expressly deny that they have committed any act or omission giving rise to any liability under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Under the terms of the stipulation of settlement, which the court approved on August 24, 2021, the Company and certain of the Company's insurance carriers caused a payment of $18.25 million to be made to the plaintiff class. As a result of this settlement agreement, during the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded a loss on settlement of $13.25 million in selling, general, and administrative expenses on the condensed statement of operations, which represents the litigation settlement of $18.25 million offset by $5.0 million in insurance claim proceeds from our insurance carriers.

On December 15, 2016, a purported stockholder of the Company filed a derivative lawsuit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware against Tim Mayleben, Roger Newton, Mary McGowan, Nicole Vitullo, Dov Goldstein, Daniel Janney, Antonio Gotto Jr., Mark McGovern, Gilbert Omenn, Scott Braunstein, and Patrick Enright. The Company is named as a nominal defendant. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties to the Company when they made or approved improper statements on August 17, 2015, regarding the Company’s lead product candidate’s path to FDA approval, and failed to ensure that reliable systems of internal controls were in place at the Company. On February 8, 2019, the Company and defendants filed a motion to dismiss the derivative lawsuit. On April 23, 2019, the plaintiff filed an opposition to the motion to dismiss the derivative lawsuit, and the Company filed a reply brief on May 15, 2019. On November 6, 2019, the court held a hearing on the motion to dismiss. On February 13, 2020, the court granted the motion to dismiss with prejudice and entered judgment in the Company’s favor. On March 16, 2020, the plaintiff filed a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court of Delaware. On June 1, 2020, the plaintiff filed his opening brief on appeal to the Supreme Court of Delaware. On July 1, 2020, the Company and the defendants filed an answering brief, and on July 16, 2020, the plaintiff filed a reply brief. On October 14, 2020, the Supreme Court of Delaware held oral arguments on the appeal. On October 29, 2020, the Supreme Court of Delaware issued an order affirming the judgment of the Court of Chancery.

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There have been no other material changes to the Company’s contractual obligations and commitments and contingencies outside the ordinary course of business from those previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 or noted above.

6. Investments

The following table summarizes the Company’s cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments (in thousands):


	September 30, 2021
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
Cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Money market funds	$	130,766	$	—	$	—	$	130,766


Total	$	130,766	$	—	$	—	$	130,766


	December 31, 2020
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	281,783	$	—	$	—	$	281,783






Total	$	281,783	$	—	$	—	$	281,783

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, other income, net in the statements of operations includes interest income on investments of less than $0.1 million and less than $0.1 million, respectively.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, other income, net in the statements of operations includes interest income on investments of less than $0.1 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

There were no unrealized gains or losses on investments reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to other income in the statements of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, there were no allowances for credit losses and all unrealized gains (losses) for available-for-sale securities were recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). As of September 30, 2021, the Company had no accrued interest receivables.

7. Fair Value Measurements

The Company follows accounting guidance that emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Fair value is defined as “the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.” Fair value measurements are defined on a three level hierarchy:


Level 1 inputs:						Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets;

Level 2 inputs:						Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by market data; and

Level 3 inputs:						Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and require the reporting entity to develop assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability.

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The following table presents the Company’s financial assets that have been measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):


Description	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3

September 30, 2021
Assets:
Money market funds	$	130,766	$	130,766	$	—	$	—


Total assets at fair value	$	130,766	$	130,766	$	—	$	—
December 31, 2020
Assets:
Money market funds	$	281,743	$	281,743	$	—	$	—




Total assets at fair value	$	281,743	$	281,743	$	—	$	—

There were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.

8. Liability Related to the Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement

On June 26, 2019, the Company entered into a RIPA with Oberland, as agent for purchasers party thereto (the “Purchasers”), and the Purchasers named therein, to obtain financing in respect to the commercialization and further development of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets and other working capital needs. Pursuant to the RIPA, the Company received $125.0 million at closing, less certain issuance costs. The Company was also entitled to receive up to approximately $75.0 million in subsequent installments subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the RIPA: (i) $25.0 million upon certain regulatory approval of its product candidates and (ii) $50.0 million, at the Company’s option, upon reaching $100.0 million trailing worldwide six-month net sales any time prior to December 31, 2021 (the “Third Payment”). In March 2020, the Company received $25.0 million from Oberland upon receiving regulatory approval of NEXLETOL.

As consideration for such payments, the Purchasers have a right to receive certain revenue interests (the “Revenue Interests”) from the Company based upon net sales of the Company’s certain products which will be tiered payments initially ranging from 2.5% to 7.5% of the Company’s net sales in the covered territory (the “Covered Territory”); provided that (a) if annual net sales equal or exceed $350.0 million by December 31, 2021 (the “Sales Threshold”), the initially tiered revenue interest rate will be decreased to a single rate of 2.5% of the Company’s net sales in the Covered Territory, beginning on January 1, 2022, and (b) if annual net sales equal or exceed the Sales Threshold and if the Purchasers receive 100% of their invested capital by December 31, 2024, the revenue interest rate will be decreased to a single rate of 0.4% of the Company’s net sales in the Covered Territory beginning on January 1, 2025. If the Third Payment is drawn down by the Company, the applicable royalty rates will increase by one-third. The Covered Territory is the United States, but is subject to expand to include the world-wide net sales if the Company’s annual U.S. net sales are less than $350.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The U.S. net sales milestone thresholds are not to be taken as financial guidance. The Purchasers’ rights to receive the Revenue Interests shall terminate on the date on which the Purchasers have received Revenue Interests payments of 195% of the then aggregate purchase price (the “Cumulative Purchaser Payments”) paid to the Company, unless the RIPA is terminated earlier.

Under the RIPA, the Company has an option (the “Call Option”) to terminate the RIPA and repurchase future Revenue Interests at any time upon advance written notice. Additionally, the Purchasers have an option (the “Put Option”) to terminate the RIPA and to require the Company to repurchase future Revenue Interests upon enumerated events such as a bankruptcy event, an uncured material breach, a material adverse effect or a change of control. If the Put Option is exercised prior to the first anniversary of the closing date by the Purchasers (except pursuant to a change of control), the required repurchase price will be 120% of the Cumulative Purchaser Payments (minus all payments Company has made to the Purchasers in connection with the Revenue Interests). In all other cases, if the Put Option or the Call Option are exercised, the required repurchase price will be 175% of the Cumulative Purchaser Payments (minus all payments Company has made to the Purchasers in connection with the Revenue Interests), if such option is exercised prior to the third anniversary of the closing date, and 195% of the Cumulative Purchaser Payments (minus all payments Company has made to the Purchasers in connection with the Revenue Interests), if such option is exercised thereafter.

In addition, the RIPA contains various representations and warranties, information rights, non-financial covenants, indemnification obligations and other provisions that are customary for a transaction of this nature.

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RIPA Amendments

On April 26, 2021, the Company entered into Amendment No. 2 (the “RIPA Amendment”) to the RIPA with Oberland, as agent for the purchaser parties thereto. Pursuant to the RIPA Amendment, Oberland waived the original trailing six-month world-wide net sales condition to the third installment payment under the RIPA and released the final $50 million payment payable to the Company under the terms of the RIPA. The Company and Oberland also agreed to amend additional terms of the RIPA such that the purchasers will have a right to receive certain revenue interests (the “Revenue Interests”) from the Company based on net sales of the Company’s certain products, once approved, which will be tiered payments ranging from 3.33% to 10% (the “Third Payment Applicable Percentage”) of the Company’s net sales in the covered territory (the “Covered Territory”); provided that (a) prior to December 31, 2024, with respect to each country defined in the Daiichi Territory, if the percentage of net sales that Company receives from Daiichi (the “Receivables Percentage”) is less than the Third Payment Applicable Percentage, then the Revenue Interest for such country payable to the purchasers will be equal to the Receivables Percentages, (b) if annual net sales equal or exceed $350 million and if the Purchasers receive 100% of their invested capital (
Cumulative Purchaser Payments") by December 31, 2024, the revenue interest rate will be decreased to a single rate of 3.33% of the Company’s net sales in the Covered Territory for all subsequent calendar quarters and (c) if the Purchasers receive Revenue Interest payments less than 100% of Cumulative Purchaser Payments by December 31, 2024, the Third Payment Applicable Percentage will be increased to a single rate of the Company’s net sales that would have provided 100% of Cumulative Purchaser Payments had such rate applied from the initial funding by the Purchasers. The Covered Territory was originally the United States, but has been expanded to worldwide for all calendar years beginning on or after January 1, 2022.

Under the RIPA, the Company has an option (the “Call Option”) to terminate the RIPA and repurchase future Revenue Interests at any time upon advance written notice. Additionally, the Purchasers have an option (the “Put Option”) to terminate the RIPA and to require the Company to repurchase future Revenue Interests upon enumerated events such as a bankruptcy event, an uncured material breach, a material adverse effect or a change of control. If the Put Option or the Call Option are exercised, the required repurchase price will be 200% of the Cumulative Purchaser Payments (minus all payments Company has made to the Purchasers in connection with the Revenue Interests), if such option is exercised prior to the third anniversary of the closing date, and 225% of the Cumulative Purchaser Payments (minus all payments Company has made to the Purchasers in connection with the Revenue Interests), if such option is exercised thereafter.

In accordance with the guidance in ASC 470‑50, “Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments,” the RIPA Amendment was accounted for as a debt modification. The amendment resulted in a $0.1 million loss on modification of debt, consisting of third-party fees associated with the transaction, which is included in selling, general, and administrative expenses in the statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

On May 16, 2021, the Company entered into an Amendment to the Security Agreement and Waiver ("Amendment and Waiver") with the same parties to the Security Agreement, by and among the Company, Eiger Partners II LP (the "Purchaser") and Eiger III SA LLC (the "Purchaser Agent"), dated as of June 26, 2019 (the "Security Agreement"). Pursuant to the Amendment and Waiver, if (i) the net revenue from sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and certain other products in the United States (as reported in the Company’s financial statements as “product sales, net” in accordance with GAAP and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, upfront or milestone payments and other collaboration revenue) (the “Specified Net Revenue”) for the calendar quarter ended September 30, 2021 does not exceed $15.0 million, or (ii) the Specified Net Revenue for any calendar quarter ending after September 30, 2021 does not exceed $15.0 million, then the Company shall deposit $50.0 million in a deposit account that is subject to a block account control agreement in favor of the Purchase Agent, no later than the earlier of (x) the date the Specified Net Revenue for such calendar quarter has been determined and (y) 45 days after the last day of such calendar quarter. Since the Specified Net Revenue for the calendar quarter ended September 30, 2021 did not exceed $15.0 million, the Company deposited $50.0 million in a deposit account that is subject to a block account control agreement, which is classified as restricted cash on the condensed balance sheets. The Purchaser Agent shall have sole dominion and control over all funds deposited in the deposited account and such funds may be withdrawn therefrom only with the consent of the Purchaser Agent. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Put Option Event, the Purchaser Agent shall have the right to apply amounts held in the deposit account in payment of certain secured obligations in the manner provided for in the Security Agreement. The Amendment and Wavier does not substitute, replace or release the Pledgors from any other obligations under the RIPA or Security Agreement.

In connection with the arrangement, as of September 30, 2021, the Company has recorded a liability, referred to as the “Revenue interest liability” in the condensed balance sheets, of $247.6 million, net of $0.5 million of capitalized issuance costs in connection with the RIPA. The Company imputes interest expense associated with this liability using the effective interest rate method. The effective interest rate is calculated based on the rate that would enable the debt to be repaid in full over the anticipated life of the arrangement. The interest rate on this liability may vary during the term of the agreement depending on a number of factors, including the level of forecasted net sales. The Company evaluates the interest rate quarterly based on its current net sales forecasts utilizing the prospective method.

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A significant increase or decrease in net sales will materially impact the revenue interest liability, interest expense and the time period for repayment. The Company recorded approximately $10.4 million and $23.3 million in interest expense related to this arrangement for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, and $4.9 million and $13.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

The repayment of the RIPA to Oberland does not have a fixed repayment schedule, rather it will be completely repaid and extinguished when the Company has repaid 200% of the aggregate purchase price prior to the third anniversary of the closing date, and 225% of the Cumulative Purchaser Payments thereafter, unless the RIPA is terminated earlier. Since there is not a fixed repayment schedule, the Company does not project its future repayments by year. Each period, the Company estimates the future expected sales of its products in the covered territory and determines the effective annual imputed interest rate, which updates and changes the timing of the Company’s payments. Under the terms of the agreement, every $100 million of net sales generated, less than or equal to $250 million in an annual aggregate year, would result in a repayment obligation of approximately $10.0 million or 10.0% at the stated repayment rate in the first year. Annual Net Sales for a calendar year exceeding $250 million would result in a repayment obligation of approximately $3.3 million or 3.3% for every $100 million of sales above the threshold. If the Company equals or exceeds $350 million of sales in the U.S. in 2021, then the repayment amount would drop to $3.3 million for every $100 million of net sales starting in 2022. If the US net sales are less than $350 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, then the Covered Territory is expanded to include worldwide sales beginning in 2022. The Company’s repayments of the RIPA are directly tied to the growth of its net sales, and as the Company’s net sales grow, the Company expects the related repayments of the RIPA to grow as well. The Company currently expects to repay $14.0 million in the next twelve months.

The effective annual imputed interest rate is 17.2% as of September 30, 2021. The Company incurred $0.6 million of issuance costs in connection with the RIPA, which will be amortized to interest expense over the estimated term of the RIPA. Payments made to Oberland as a result of the Company’s net sales will reduce the revenue interest liability.

The following table summarizes the revenue interest liability activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2021:


	(in thousands)
Total revenue interest liability at December 31, 2020	$	176,604
Oberland funding upon execution of Amendment No. 2, net of issuance costs	49,917
Interest expense recognized	23,310
Revenue Interests payments	(2,263)
Total revenue interest liability at September 30, 2021	$	247,568

9. Convertible Notes

On November 16, 2020, the Company issued $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.0% senior subordinated convertible notes due November 15, 2025. The net proceeds the Company received from the offering of the initial notes was approximately $242.0 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company. In connection with the offering of the senior subordinated convertible notes, the Company granted the initial purchasers of the senior subordinated convertible notes a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $30.0 million aggregate principal amount of the senior subordinated convertible notes on the same terms and conditions. On November 18, 2020 the option was exercised, which resulted in approximately $29.1 million of additional proceeds, for total aggregate principal of $280.0 million and net proceeds of $271.1 million (the additional notes and, together with the initial notes, collectively called the “Convertible Notes”). The Company used approximately $46.0 million of the net proceeds from the offering of the notes to pay the cost of the Capped Call (as defined below) and $55.0 million of the net proceeds from the offering of the initial notes to finance the Prepaid Forward (as defined below). The Convertible Notes are the Company's senior unsecured obligations and mature on November 15, 2025 (the “Maturity Date”), unless earlier repurchased or converted into shares of common stock under certain circumstances described below. The Convertible Notes are convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, can be repurchased for cash, or a combination thereof, at the Company’s election, at an initial conversion rate of 30.2151 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $33.096 per share of common stock, subject to adjustment. The Company will pay interest on the Convertible Notes semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year.

The Convertible Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company that are subordinated in right of payment to indebtedness, obligations and other liabilities under the Company’s RIPA, the revenue interests issued pursuant to such agreement, and any refinancing of the foregoing.

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Holders may convert their Convertible Notes at their option at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding August 15, 2025 in the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ended on March 31, 2021 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price per share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“common stock”), is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price for each of at least 20 trading days, whether or not consecutive, during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter; (2) during the five business days after any five consecutive trading day period (such five consecutive trading day period, the “measurement period”) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price per share of the Company’s common stock and the conversion rate for the notes on each such trading day; (3) if the Company calls such notes for redemption, any such notes that have been called for redemption may be converted at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the redemption date, but only with respect to the notes called for redemption; and (4) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events, as provided in the Indenture.

On or after August 15, 2025, to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, holders may convert all or any portion of their notes at the applicable conversion rate at any time at the option of the holder regardless of the foregoing conditions.

In addition, following certain corporate events or following issuance of a notice of redemption, the Company will, in certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its notes in connection with such a corporate event or to convert its notes called (or deemed called) for redemption during the related redemption period, as the case may be.

The Convertible Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option at any time, and from time to time, on or after November 20, 2023 and before the 41st scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, at a cash redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, but only if the last reported sale price per share of the Company’s common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive), including the trading day immediately preceding the date the Company sends the related redemption notice, during any 30 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which the Company sends such redemption notice. No sinking fund is provided for the notes. If the Company redeems less than all the outstanding notes, at least $125.0 million aggregate principal amount of notes must be outstanding and not subject to redemption as of the relevant redemption notice date.

If the Company undergoes a “fundamental change” (as defined in the Indenture), holders may require the Company to repurchase their notes for cash all or any portion of their notes at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date. The Indenture includes customary terms and covenants, including certain events of default.

The Company incurred approximately $8.9 million of issuance costs related to the issuance of the Convertible Notes, of which, prior to the adoption of ASU 2020-06 on January 1, 2021, $5.8 million and $3.1 million were allocated and recorded to long-term debt and additional paid-in capital, respectively. The $5.8 million of issuance costs recorded as long-term debt on the condensed balance sheet are amortized over the five-year contractual term of the Convertible Notes using the effective interest method.

Prior to the adoption of ASU 2020-06 on January 1, 2021, the $271.1 million of proceeds received from the issuance of the Convertible Notes were allocated between long-term debt (the “liability component”) of $177.6 million and additional paid-in capital (the “equity component”) of $93.5 million. The fair value of the liability component was measured using rates determined for similar debt instruments without a conversion feature. The carrying amount of the equity component, representing the conversion option, was determined by deducting the fair value of the liability component from the aggregate face value of the Convertible Notes and was included in additional paid-in capital in the condensed balance sheet and was not remeasured as long as it did not to meet the conditions for equity classification. The liability component was to be accreted up to the face value of the Convertible Notes of $280.0 million, which resulted in additional non-cash interest expense being recognized through the Maturity Date.

With the adoption of ASU 2020-06 as of January 1, 2021, the Company reports the convertible debt liability at the aggregate principal amount less unamortized issuance costs. This resulted in the reclassification of the $93.5 million of the Company’s convertible notes recognized at December 31, 2020 from additional paid in capital to the convertible debt liability. The portion of interest expense previously recognized for the accretion of the convertible debt liability and the true-up of the amortization of the issuance costs of $1.5 million was recorded as an adjustment to accumulated deficit.

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The following tables summarizes the outstanding principal and debt issuance cost balances as follows (in thousands):


	Convertible note, debt balance	Debt issuance cost	Convertible notes, net
Balance at December 31, 2020	185,100	(5,733)	179,367
Adjustments to net principal due to adoption of ASU 2020-06	94,900	(2,973)	91,927
Balance at January 1, 2021	280,000	(8,706)	271,294
Balance at September 30, 2021	280,000	(7,492)	272,508

The Company recorded $3.2 million and $9.6 million of interest expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, relating to the cash interest on the convertible notes due semi-annually and amortization of the debt issuance costs.

As of September 30, 2021, no Convertible Notes were convertible pursuant to their terms. The estimated fair value of the Convertible Notes was $174.8 million and $283.4 million as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The estimated fair value of the Convertible Notes was determined through consideration of quoted market prices. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the if-converted value of the Convertible Notes did not exceed the principal value of those notes.

On October 22, 2021, the Company entered into a privately negotiated exchange agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) with two co-managed holders (the “Holders”) of its Convertible Notes. Under the terms of the Exchange Agreement the Holders agreed to exchange (the “Exchange”) with the Company $15.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes held in the aggregate by them (and accrued interest thereon) for shares of the Company’s common stock. Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, the number of shares of common stock to be issued by the Company to the Holders upon consummation of the Exchange will be determined based upon the volume-weighted-average-price per share of common stock, subject to a floor of $5.62 per share, during the five trading-day averaging period, commencing on the trading day immediately following the date of the Exchange Agreement. The Exchange is expected to close on November 3, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Capped Call Transactions

In connection with the offering of the Convertible Notes, the Company entered into privately-negotiated capped call transactions with one of the initial purchasers of the convertible notes or its affiliate and certain other financial institutions. The Company used approximately $46.0 million of the net proceeds from the offering of the Convertible Notes to pay the cost of the capped call transactions. The capped call transactions are expected generally to reduce potential dilution to the Company’s common stock upon any conversion of the Convertible Notes and/or offset any cash payments the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted notes, as the case may be, in the event that the market value per share of the Company’s common stock, as measured under the terms of the capped call transactions at the time of exercise, is greater than the strike price of the capped call transactions (which initially corresponds to the initial conversion price of the Convertible Notes, and is subject to certain adjustments), with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap initially equal to approximately $55.16 (which represents a premium of approximately 100% over the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock on November 11, 2020), subject to certain adjustments. The capped call transactions are separate transactions, entered into by the Company and are not part of the terms of the Convertible Notes.

Given that the transactions meet certain accounting criteria, the convertible note capped call transactions are recorded in stockholders’ equity, and they are not accounted for as derivatives and are not remeasured each reporting period. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had not purchased any shares under the convertible note capped call transactions.

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Prepaid Forward

In connection with the offering of the Convertible Notes, the Company entered into a prepaid forward stock repurchase transaction (“Prepaid Forward”) with a financial institution (“Forward Counterparty”). Pursuant to the Prepaid Forward, the Company used approximately $55.0 million of the net proceeds from the offering of the Convertible Notes to fund the Prepaid Forward. The aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock underlying the Prepaid Forward was approximately 1,994,198. The expiration date for the Prepaid Forward is November 15, 2025, although it may be settled earlier in whole or in part. Upon settlement of the Prepaid Forward, at expiration or upon any early settlement, the Forward Counterparty will deliver to the Company the number of shares of common stock underlying the Prepaid Forward or the portion thereof being settled early. The shares purchased under the Prepaid Forward are treated as treasury stock and not outstanding for purposes of the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share, but will remain outstanding for corporate law purposes, including for purposes of any future stockholders’ votes, until the Forward Counterparty delivers the shares underlying the Prepaid Forward to the Company. The Company’s Prepaid Forward hedge transaction exposes the Company to credit risk to the extent that its counterparty may be unable to meet the terms of the transaction. The Company mitigates this risk by limiting its counterparty to a major financial institution.

10. Other Accrued Liabilities

Other accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Accrued compensation	$	10,920	$	15,161
Accrued variable consideration	14,239		5,025
Accrued professional fees	5,069		3,183
Accrued interest on convertible notes	4,200		1,369
Accrued other	48		52
Total other accrued liabilities	$	34,476	$	24,790

11. Stock Compensation

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In April 2020, the board of directors approved the Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP") which was approved by the Company's shareholders on May 28, 2020. The ESPP allows eligible employees to authorize payroll deductions of up to 10% of their base salary or wages up to $25,000 annually to be applied toward the purchase of shares of the Company's common stock on the last trading day of the offering period. Participating employees will purchase shares of the Company's common stock at a discount of up to 15% on the lesser of the closing price of the Company's common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (i) on the first trading day of the offering period or (ii) the last day of any offering period. Offering periods under the ESPP will generally be in six months increments, commencing on September 1 and March 1 of each calendar year with the administrator having the right to establish different offering periods. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recognized approximately $0.2 million and $0.6 million of stock compensation expense related to the ESPP, respectively. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recognized $0.1 million of stock compensation expense related to the ESPP. As of September 30, 2021, there have been 133,214 shares issued and 691,786 shares reserved for future issuance under the ESPP.

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Stock Options

The following table summarizes the activity relating to the Company’s options to purchase common stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2021:


	Number of Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
					(in thousands)
Outstanding at December 31, 2020	4,176,518	$	40.24	5.28	$	18,415
Granted	757,992	$	28.06
Forfeited or expired	(1,001,831)	$	48.92
Exercised	(228,741)	$	14.04
Outstanding at September 30, 2021	3,703,938	$	37.02	4.22	$	2,708

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s stock option plan as of September 30, 2021:


	Number of Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
					(in thousands)
Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2021	3,703,938	$	37.02	4.22	$	2,708
Exercisable at September 30, 2021	2,947,780	$	37.21	3.11	$	2,708

Stock-based compensation related to stock options was $2.8 million and $12.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, including $0.8 million and $1.3 million that were capitalized into inventory, and $5.1 million and $16.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, including less than $0.1 million and $0.5 million that were capitalized into inventory. As of September 30, 2021, there was $15.3 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested options, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.5 years. The increase in stock option expense for the three months ended June 30, 2021, was primarily due to an equity modification related to the CEO Departure Agreement entered into between the Company and the Company's former CEO on May 16, 2021.

Restricted Stock Units (or RSUs)

The following table summarizes the activity relating to the Company’s RSUs for the nine months ended September 30, 2021:


	Number of RSUs	Weighted-Average Fair Value Per Share
Outstanding and unvested December 31, 2020	401,234	$	46.92
Granted	827,466	$	26.47
Forfeited	(190,166)	$	38.43
Vested	(159,185)	$	44.14
Outstanding and unvested September 30, 2021	879,349	$	30.02

Stock-based compensation related to RSUs was approximately $2.4 million and $6.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, including $0.4 million and $0.6 million that were capitalized into inventory, and approximately $2.1 million and $5.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, including less than $0.1 million and $0.1 million that were capitalized into inventory. As of September 30, 2021, there was $23.6 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested RSUs, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.0 years.

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Performance-based Restricted Stock Units ("PBRSUs")

The Company's PBRSUs vest after a two-year performance period contingent upon the achievement of predetermined performance-based milestones based on the Company's U.S. net product sales. The actual number of units (if any) received under this award will depend on continued employment and actual performance over the two-year performance period. Each quarter, the Company updates their assessment of the probability that the performance milestone will be achieved. The Company amortizes the fair value of the PBRSUs based on the expected performance period to achieve the performance milestone. The fair value of the PBRSUs is based on the quoted market price of our common stock on the date of grant. The Company expects the performance criteria to be met.

The following table summarizes the activity relating to the Company's PBRSUs for the nine months ended September 30, 2021:


	Number of PBRSUs	Weighted-average fair value per share
Outstanding December 31, 2020	—	$	—
Granted	64,200	$	22.52
Forfeited	(18,900)	$	22.52
Outstanding and unvested September 30, 2021	45,300	$	22.52

Stock-based compensation related to the PBRSUs was approximately $0.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.

12. Income Taxes

There was no provision for income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, because the Company has incurred annual operating losses since inception. At September 30, 2021, the Company continues to conclude that it is not more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefit of its deferred tax assets due to its history of losses. Accordingly, a full valuation allowance has been applied against the net deferred tax assets.

13. Net Loss Per Common Share

Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common stock equivalents outstanding for the period, including shares that potentially could be dilutive if they were exercised or vested during the period, determined using the treasury-stock method. For purposes of this calculation, stock options, unvested RSUs, unvested PBRSUs, shares issuable under the ESPP and shares issuable upon conversion of the convertible notes are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share when their effect is dilutive.

The shares outstanding at the end of the respective periods presented below were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share due to their anti-dilutive effect:


	Three and Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021	2020
Common shares under option	3,703,938	4,428,650
Unvested RSUs	879,349	457,610
Unvested PBRSUs	45,300	—
Shares issuable related to the ESPP	9,871	—
Shares issuable upon conversion of convertible notes	8,460,237	—
Total potential dilutive shares	13,098,695	4,886,260

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14. Statements of Cash Flows and Restricted Cash

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash presented on the balance sheets to the same amounts presented on the statements of cash flows on September 30, 2021 and 2020 and December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):


	September 30, 2021		September 30, 2020		December 31, 2020		December 31, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents	$	103,672	$	215,748	$	304,962	$	166,130
Restricted cash	50,000		—		—		928
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash shown on the condensed statements of cash flows	$	153,672	$	215,748	$	304,962	$	167,058

15. ATM Offering

On August 3, 2021, the Company filed an automatically effective registration statement on Form S-3ASR (the “Registration Statement”) with the SEC which registers the offering, issuance and sale of an unspecified amount of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and/or units of any combination thereof. The Company simultaneously entered into an open market sale agreement with Jefferies LLC, as sales agent, to provide for the issuance and sale by the Company of up to $250 million of common stock from time to time in “at-the-market” offerings under the Registration Statement and related prospectus filed with the Registration Statement (the “ATM Program”). During the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company issued 363,061 shares of common stock resulting in net proceeds of approximately $4.2 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other expenses, pursuant to the ATM Program.

16. Subsequent Events

On October 18, 2021, the Company, upon the approval of the Board of Directors of the Company, announced a reduction in force (the “Reduction”) of approximately 40% of its workforce across the United States, or approximately 170 employees. The Reduction was approved after a systematic review of the organization and the challenges associated with launching NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET during the COVID pandemic and in connection with the Company’s plan to align operational and expense structure to better enable future growth for its approved products and to prioritize its investment in CLEAR Outcomes trial. The Reduction was substantially complete as of October 31, 2021. The total costs related to the Reduction are estimated to be approximately $6.2 million, of which approximately $6.2 million will result in future cash outlays primarily related to severance costs and related expenses.

On October 22, 2021, the Company entered into the Exchange Agreement with Holders of its Convertible Notes. Under the terms of the Exchange Agreement the Holders agreed to exchange with the Company $15.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes held in the aggregate by them (and accrued interest thereon) for shares of the Company’s common stock. Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, the number of shares of common stock to be issued by the Company to the Holders upon consummation of the Exchange will be determined based upon the volume-weighted-average-price per share of common stock, subject to a floor of $5.62 per share, during the five trading-day averaging period, commencing on the trading day immediately following the date of the Exchange Agreement. The Exchange is expected to close on November 3, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our condensed financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and other filings that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). These forward-looking statements are based on our management’s belief and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements relate to future events, including our clinical development and commercialization plans, or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, including in relation to the clinical development, commercialization plans, approval of expanded indications for bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets or the expected closing of the exchange of the Notes pursuant to the Exchange Agreement and expectations regarding future transactions to further improve our balance sheet to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements, including in relation to the clinical development, commercialization plans, or approval of expanded indications for bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets, the impact of COVID-19, our corporate workforce reduction and targeted program savings on our business, clinical activities and commercial development plans, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as, but not limited to, “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar terminology. These statements are only predictions. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which are, in some cases, beyond our control and that could materially affect results. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those referred to or discussed in or incorporated by reference into the section titled “Risk Factors” included in Item 1A of Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance.

The forward-looking statements in this report represent our views as of the date of this quarterly report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

We use the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” or the "Company” in this report to refer to Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Overview

Corporate Overview

We are the Lipid Management Company, a pharmaceutical company singularly focused on developing and commercializing affordable, oral, once-daily, non-statin medicines for the treatment of patients struggling with elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol, or LDL-C. Our team of lipid experts are dedicated to lowering bad cholesterol through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines and their combinations with established medicines. Our first two products were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, European Medicines Agency, or EMA, and Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, or Swissmedic, in 2020. Bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets are oral, once-daily, non-statin, LDL-C lowering medicines for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or ASCVD, or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, or HeFH.

On April 26, 2021, we entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd, or DS. Pursuant to the agreement, we granted DS exclusive development and commercialization rights to bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil, Macao, Cambodia and Myanmar, or the DS Territory. The agreement allows for potential expansion across geographies including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Yemen, Colombia and other Latin American countries. Except for certain development activities in South Korea and Taiwan, DS will be responsible for development and commercialization in these territories. We

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received an upfront cash payment of $30.0 million in May 2021 and are eligible to receive up to an additional $175.0 million in sales milestones. We will also receive tiered royalties ranging from 5 percent to 20 percent on net sales in the DS Territory.

On April 26, 2021, we entered into Amendment No. 2, or the RIPA Amendment, to the Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement, or RIPA, with Eiger III SA LLC, or Oberland, an affiliate of Oberland Capital LLC, as agent for the purchaser parties thereto dated as of June 26, 2019 (as amended by the Amendment No. 1 dated as of November 9, 2020). Pursuant to the RIPA Amendment, Oberland waived the original trailing six-month world-wide net sales condition to the third installment payment under the RIPA and released the final $50 million payment payable to us under the terms of the RIPA. The Company and Oberland also agreed to amend additional terms of the RIPA and the related Security Agreement, which are discussed further in Note 8 "Liability Related to the Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement" in our condensed financial statements included in this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021.

On October 18, 2021, we announced our plan to align operational and expense structure to better enable future growth for our two first-in-class oral medicines, NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET, and prioritize our investment in the CLEAR Outcomes trial. We reduced operational expense across our organization through a corporate workforce reduction of approximately 40%, or the Reduction, and through targeted program savings. We focused our commercialization efforts on an optimized blend of focused outreach including a streamlined sales force, directed to targeted cardiologists and primary care physicians, and a suite of digital initiatives designed to increase awareness and utilization of our medicines in appropriate patients. Refer to Note 16 "Subsequent Events" in our condensed financial statements included in this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 for further information.

On October 22, 2021, we entered into a privately negotiated exchange agreement, or the Exchange Agreement, with two co-managed holders, or the Holders, of our Convertible Notes. Under the terms of the Exchange Agreement the Holders agreed to exchange with us $15.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes held in the aggregate by them (and accrued interest thereon) for shares of our common stock. Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, the number of shares of common stock to be issued by us to the Holders upon consummation of the Exchange will be determined based upon the volume-weighted-average-price per share of common stock, subject to a floor of $5.62 per share, during the five trading-day averaging period, commencing on the trading day immediately following the date of the Exchange Agreement. The Exchange is expected to close on November 3, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Refer to Note 16 "Subsequent Events" in our condensed financial statements included in this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 for further information.

We were incorporated in Delaware in January 2008 and commenced our operations in April 2008. Since our inception, we have focused substantially all of our efforts and financial resources on developing bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets. In February 2020, the FDA approved NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET. NEXLETOL was commercially available in the U.S. on March 30, 2020 and NEXLIZET was commercially available in the U.S. on June 4, 2020. We have funded our operations to date primarily through proceeds from sales of preferred stock, convertible promissory notes and warrants, public offerings of common stock, the incurrence of indebtedness, through collaborations with third parties and revenue interest purchase agreements, and we have incurred losses in each year since our inception.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, our net losses were $69.4 million and $204.0 million, respectively. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded net losses of $85.4 million and $39.1 million, respectively. Substantially all of our prior net losses resulted from costs incurred in connection with research and development programs and selling, general and administrative costs associated with our operations. While we reduced operational expense across our organization through the Reduction and through targeted program savings, we will have to secure additional cash resources or implement additional cost reduction initiatives as needed to continue to fund the commercialization and further development of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet. After taking into account the Reduction and other targeted program savings, and excluding the $50.0 million of restricted cash, we expect that our current cash runway allows us to operate into the second quarter of 2022. We will implement additional cost reduction measures as needed if additional collaboration or capital funding is not available. Despite such cost savings initiatives we expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future in connection with our ongoing activities, including, among others:

•advancing the commercialization of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET tablets in the U.S.; and

•completing the clinical development activities for the CLEAR Outcomes trial.

Accordingly, we will need additional financing to support our continuing operations and to further the commercialization and development of our products. We may seek to fund our operations and further development activities through collaborations with third parties, strategic alliances, licensing arrangements, permitted debt financings, permitted royalty-based

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financings, permitted public or private equity offerings or through other sources. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise capital as and when needed would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategy or continue operations. We will need to generate significant revenues to achieve profitability, and we may never do so.

Product Overview

NEXLETOL is a first-in-class ATP Citrate Lyase, or ACL, inhibitor that lowers LDL-C by reducing cholesterol biosynthesis and up-regulating the LDL receptors. Completed Phase 3 studies conducted in more than 3,000 patients, with over 2,000 patients treated with NEXLETOL, demonstrated an average 18 percent placebo corrected LDL-C lowering when used in patients on moderate or high-intensity statins. NEXLETOL was approved by the FDA in February 2020 as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with HeFH or established ASCVD who require additional lowering of LDL-C.

NEXLIZET contains bempedoic acid and ezetimibe and lowers elevated LDL-C through complementary mechanisms of action by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in the liver and absorption in the intestine. Phase 3 data demonstrated NEXLIZET lowered LDL-C by a mean of 38 percent compared to placebo when added on to maximally tolerated statins. NEXLIZET was approved by the FDA in February 2020 as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with HeFH or established ASCVD who require additional lowering of LDL-C.

NILEMDO is a first-in-class ACL inhibitor that lowers LDL-C by reducing cholesterol biosynthesis and up-regulating the LDL receptors. NILEMDO was approved by the EC in March 2020 for use in adults with primary hypercholesterolemia (heterozygous familial and non-familial) or mixed dyslipidemia, as an adjunct to diet in combination with a statin or statin with other lipid-lowering therapies in adult patients unable to reach LDL-C goals with the maximum tolerated dose of a statin, or alone or in combination with other lipid-lowering therapies as an adjunct to diet in adult patients who are statin-intolerant, or for whom a statin is contraindicated.

NUSTENDI contains bempedoic acid and ezetimibe and lowers elevated LDL-C through complementary mechanisms of action by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in the liver and absorption in the intestine. NUSTENDI was approved by the EC in March 2020 for use in adults with primary hypercholesterolemia (heterozygous familial and non-familial) or mixed dyslipidemia, as an adjunct to diet in combination with a statin in adult patients unable to reach LDL-C goals with the maximum tolerated dose of a statin in addition to ezetimibe, alone in patients who are either statin-intolerant or for whom a statin is contraindicated, and are unable to reach LDL-C goals with ezetimibe alone, or as an adjunct to diet in adult patients already being treated with the combination of bempedoic acid and ezetimibe as separate tablets with or without statin.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we incurred $47.1 million in expenses related to our CLEAR Outcomes CVOT and other ongoing clinical studies.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we incurred $52.8 million in expenses related to our CLEAR Outcomes CVOT and other ongoing clinical studies.

Ongoing Clinical Studies

Global Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial—CLEAR Outcomes

CLEAR Outcomes is a Phase 3, event driven, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study designed to evaluate whether treatment of bempedoic acid reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with statin intolerance who have cardiovascular disease or are at high risk for cardiovascular disease. The primary endpoint of the study is the effect of bempedoic acid on major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, or coronary revascularization; also referred to as "four-component MACE"). CLEAR Outcomes is designed to provide 90 percent power to detect an approximately 15 percent relative risk reduction in the primary endpoint in the bempedoic acid treatment group as compared to the placebo group and is expected to complete with a minimum of 1,620 patients experiencing the primary endpoint.

The study over-enrolled with over 14,000 patients with hypercholesterolemia and high cardiovascular disease risk at over 1,200 sites in 32 countries. Eligible patients at high risk (LDL-C >100 mg/dL in primary prevention) for cardiovascular disease or with cardiovascular disease (LDL-C between 100 mg/dL to 190 mg/dL in secondary prevention) and who are only able to tolerate less than the lowest approved daily starting dose of a statin and considered statin averse, were randomized to receive

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bempedoic acid 180 mg once-daily or placebo. The expected average baseline LDL-C level in all patients is between 135 mg/dL and 140 mg/dL.

CLEAR Outcomes will conclude once the predetermined number of MACE endpoints occur. We initiated CLEAR Outcomes in December 2016 and completed enrollment in August 2019. The expected average treatment duration will be 3.75 years with a minimum treatment duration of approximately 2.25 years. Based on estimated cardiovascular event rates, we expect to meet the target number of events in the second half of 2022 and report top-line results in the first quarter of 2023. The study is intended to support our submissions for a CV risk reduction indication in the U.S., Europe and other territories. During the third quarter of 2021, we accumulated 100% of the primary 3-component MACE endpoints. In October 2021 we accumulated 80% of the primary 4-component MACE endpoints.

The COVID-19 Pandemic

The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic, or the future outbreak of any other highly infectious or contagious diseases, may impact our business, including our CVOT and commercialization efforts will depend on continuously changing circumstances, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time, such as the duration of such pandemic including future waves of infection, the emergence and prevalence of more contagious variants, or the global availability and utilization of effective vaccines, the actions taken to contain the pandemic or mitigate its impact, and the direct and indirect economic effects of the pandemic and containment measures, among others. The ongoing fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic but it has had a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may also have the effect of heightening the risks to which we are subject, including potential impacts on the progress and time to completion of our ongoing CVOT, the reliance on third parties in our supply chain for materials and manufacturing and delivery of our drugs and drug candidates, our ability to effectively promote and market our approved products, disruptions in health regulatory agencies' operations globally, the volatility of our common stock, our ability to access capital markets, and our ability to successfully commercialize and generate revenue from our approved drugs.

We are continuing to assess the long-term impact of COVID-19 on our business operations in an effort to mitigate interruption to our commercialization of our approved drugs and other business activities and to ensure the safety and well being of our employees, as well as the physicians and patients participating in our CVOT. Because COVID-19 infections have been reported throughout the U.S. and worldwide, and as new strains continue to be identified, certain national, state, and local governmental authorities have issued orders, proclamations, and/or directives aimed at minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Although some of these restrictions were eased or lifted, in response to local surges and new waves of infection, some countries, states, and local governments have reinstituted these restrictions, and additional, more restrictive orders, proclamations, and/or directives may be issued in the future. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have implemented precautionary measures to protect the health and safety of our employees, partners, and patients, including encouraging all employees to work-from-home if able to perform their duties remotely, and requiring adherence to onsite occupancy limits and appropriate safety measures designed to comply with federal, state, and local guidelines.

We believe our ability to successfully launch, commercialize, and generate revenue from NEXLETOL, NEXLIZET, NILEMDO and NUSTENDI has been and may continue to be adversely affected by the economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Physicians’ offices and other medical institutions continue to have limited access for non-patients, which includes our sales personnel. In addition, social distancing requirements and precautionary measures due to COVID-19 have impacted the ability of our sales personnel to interact in-person with customers. As a result, in many circumstances we have needed to limit our interactions with physicians and payors and adapt our launch strategies and tactics to a virtual model, including developing and deploying various technology-enabled platforms for virtual engagement such as remote detailing, digital and non-personal marketing channels, and social media. These circumstances have affected and may continue to adversely affect the ability of our sales professionals to effectively market our approved drugs to physicians and the rates of uptakes for our approved drugs, which may have a negative impact on our sales and our market penetration. In addition, patient visits with physicians have decreased as a result of COVID-19, due to travel restrictions, social distancing requirements, prioritization of healthcare resources to address the pandemic, and/or fear of exposure to the virus, which we believe has adversely affected and could continue to have a material adverse impact on new patient starts and overall patient treatment volume. Market disruption and unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to delays in obtaining insurance coverage and reimbursement of newly approved products.

We have had to optimize our cost structure in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the conventional healthcare model associated with normal health management practices, such as regular physician office visits, lab tests, and prescription fills. As a result of the impact COVID-19 has had on our business and demand, in October 2021, we announced our plan to align operational and expense structure to better enable future growth for NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET

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and prioritize our investment in the CLEAR Outcomes trial. This included reducing operational expense across the organization through a corporate workforce reduction of approximately 40% and through targeted program savings. We will focus our commercialization efforts on an optimized blend of focused outreach including a streamlined sales force, directed to targeted cardiologists and primary care physicians, and a suite of digital initiatives designed to increase awareness and utilization of our medicines in appropriate patients. We adjusted our 2021 operating expense guidance and planned 2022 operating expense budget accordingly, including our budgeted production plans. While it is not possible at this time to estimate the entirety of the impact that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will have on our business or operations, the continued spread or future waves of COVID-19, measures taken by governments, actions taken to protect employees, and the broad impact of the pandemic on all business activities may materially and adversely affect our preclinical activities, clinical development progress, data and timelines, commercialization efforts including any revenue from sales, supply chain continuity, and general business operations, and our business, prospects, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially harmed as a result.

To date, we have not experienced any interruption of our supply of drug products needed to support our ongoing clinical study and product sales. However, such interruptions may occur due to supply chain issues related to COVID-19, such as the demand for vaccines and potential for manufacturing facilities and materials to be commandeered under the Defense Production Act of 1950, or equivalent foreign legislation, which may make it more difficult to obtain materials or manufacturing capacity at our third-party manufacturers to the products needed for our clinical trials and commercial product, which could lead to delays in our ongoing trial and/or issues with our commercial supply. We remain focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet, liquidity and financial flexibility and continue to monitor developments as we deal with the disruptions and uncertainties from a business and financial perspective relating to COVID-19. We will continue to work diligently with our partners and stakeholders to continue supporting patient access to our approved medicines, advancing our product under regulatory review as well as in our clinical studies to the extent safe to do so for patients, caregivers and healthcare practitioners, and ensuring the continuity of our manufacturing and supply chain. For additional information related to the potential impact of COVID-19 on our business, please read Part I-Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

Financial Operations Overview

Product sales, net

Product sales, net is related to our sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET. NEXLETOL was commercially available in the U.S. on March 30, 2020 and NEXLIZET was commercially available in the U.S. on June 4, 2020.

Collaboration revenue

Collaboration revenue is related to our collaboration agreements with DSE, Otsuka and DS. Collaboration revenue in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 was primarily related to the initial recognition of the upfront payment from our license and collaboration agreement with DS, sales of bulk tablets under supply agreements, and royalty revenue received from collaboration partners. Collaboration revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2020, was primarily related to the $150.0 million milestone from the MAA transfer to DSE and the $60.0 million from the upfront payment with Otsuka. Under contracted supply agreements with ex-U.S. collaborators, we may manufacture and supply quantities of active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, or bulk tablets reasonably required by ex-U.S. collaboration partners for the development or sale of licensed products in their respective territory. We recognize revenue when the collaboration partner has obtained control of the API or bulk tablets. We also receive royalties from the commercialization of such products, and record our share of the variable consideration, representing a percentage of net product sales, as collaboration revenue in the period in which such underlying sales occur and costs are incurred by the collaborators.

Cost of goods sold

Cost of goods sold is related to our net product sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and the cost of goods sold from our supply agreements with collaboration partners. Prior to the FDA approval of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in February 2020, expenses associated with the manufacturing of our products were recorded as research and development expense.

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Research and Development Expenses

Our research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred in connection with the development of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets, which include:

•expenses incurred under agreements with consultants, contract research organizations, or CROs, and investigative sites that conduct our preclinical and clinical studies;

•the cost of acquiring, developing and manufacturing clinical study materials and commercial product manufacturing supply prior to product approval, including the procurement of ezetimibe in our continued development of our bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet;

•employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, stock-based compensation and travel expenses;

•allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities, insurance and other supplies; and

•costs related to compliance with regulatory requirements.

We expense research and development costs as incurred. To date, substantially all of our research and development work has been related to bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets. Costs for certain development activities, such as clinical studies, are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations or information provided to us by our vendors. Our direct research and development expenses consist principally of external costs, such as fees paid to investigators, consultants, central laboratories and CROs in connection with our clinical studies. We do not allocate acquiring and manufacturing clinical study materials, salaries, stock-based compensation, employee benefits or other indirect costs related to our research and development function to specific programs.

We will continue to incur research and development expenses in the foreseeable future as they relate to our ongoing CLEAR Outcomes trial and any other development programs or additional indications we choose to pursue. We cannot determine with certainty the duration and completion costs associated with the ongoing or future clinical studies of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets. The duration, costs and timing associated with the development of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets will depend on a variety of factors, including uncertainties associated with the results of our clinical studies and our ability to obtain regulatory approval outside the U.S. and Europe. For example, if a regulatory authority were to require us to conduct clinical studies beyond those that we currently anticipate will be required for the completion of clinical development or post-commercialization clinical studies of bempedoic acid or the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets, we could be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development or post-commercialization clinical studies of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses primarily consist of salaries and related costs for personnel, including stock-based compensation, associated with our sales, executive, accounting and finance, commercial, operational and other administrative functions. Other general and administrative expenses include selling expenses, facility-related costs, communication expenses and professional fees for legal, patent prosecution, protection and review, consulting and accounting services.

As a result of the Reduction and other targeted program savings, we anticipate that our selling, general and administrative expenses will decrease in 2022 compared to 2021. We expect our selling, general and administrative expenses will increase after we report top-line results from CLEAR Outcomes trial in the first quarter of 2023 in connection with an expanded commercialization of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and increases in our headcount.

Interest Expense

Interest expense is related to our Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement, or RIPA, with Eiger III SA LLC, or Oberland, an affiliate of Oberland Capital and Convertible Notes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. Interest expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 related solely to the RIPA.

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Other Income, Net

Other income, net, primarily relates to interest income and the accretion or amortization of premiums and discounts earned on our cash, cash equivalents and investment securities.

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our financial statements. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, contractual milestones and other various factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

There have been no other material changes to the significant accounting policies previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020


	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		Change
	(unaudited, in thousands)
Revenue:
Product sales, net	$	10,895	$	3,331	$	7,564
Collaboration revenue	3,514		502		3,012
Operating Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	5,558		275		5,283
Research and development	25,331		35,283		(9,952)
Selling, general and administrative	39,265		48,826		(9,561)
Loss income from operations	(55,745)		(80,551)		24,806
Interest expense	(13,654)		(4,928)		(8,726)
Other income, net	13		42		(29)
Net loss	$	(69,386)	$	(85,437)	$	16,051

Product sales, net

Product sales, net for the three months ended September 30, 2021 was $10.9 million compared to $3.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of $7.6 million. The increase is primarily due to prescription growth of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET during the third quarter of 2021.

Collaboration revenue

Collaboration revenue recognized for the three months ended September 30, 2021 was $3.5 million compared to $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of $3.0 million. Collaboration revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2021 was primarily related to product sales to collaboration partners under our supply agreements and royalty revenue from our collaboration agreement with DSE. Collaboration revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was related to product sales to collaboration partners under our supply agreements.

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Cost of goods sold

Cost of goods sold for the three months ended September 30, 2021 was $5.6 million compared to $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of approximately $5.3 million. The increase is primarily related to increased product sales to our collaboration partners from our supply agreements and increased net product sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and the impact of pre-launch inventory on the three months ended September 30, 2020.

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2021, were $25.3 million, compared to $35.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of $10.0 million. The decrease in research and development expenses was primarily attributable to an overall reduction in ongoing clinical research activities, including compensation costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2021, were $39.3 million, compared to $48.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of approximately $9.5 million. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily attributable to a decrease in commercial compensation expense.

Interest expense

Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2021, was $13.7 million, compared to $4.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of approximately $8.8 million. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to additional interest expense attributable to the second and third installment payments from our RIPA with Oberland and the Convertible Notes entered in November 2020.

Other income, net

Other income, net for the three months ended September 30, 2021, was less than $0.1 million, compared to less than $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020.

Comparison of the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		Change
	(unaudited, in thousands)
Revenue:
Product sales, net	$	27,855	$	4,798	$	23,057
Collaboration revenue	35,191		213,111		(177,920)
Operating Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	9,142		704		8,438
Research and development	78,359		104,972		(26,613)
Selling, general and administrative	146,647		138,060		8,587
(Loss) income from operations	(171,102)		(25,827)		(145,275)
Interest expense	(32,923)		(13,739)		(19,184)
Other income, net	36		491		(455)
Net (loss) income	$	(203,989)	$	(39,075)	$	(164,914)

Product sales, net

Product sales, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $27.9 million compared to $4.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of $23.1 million. The increase is primarily due to prescription growth of

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NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET during the entire nine months ended September 30, 2021. NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET became commercially available in the U.S. on March 30, 2020 and June 4, 2020, respectively.

Collaboration revenue

Collaboration revenue recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $35.2 million compared to $213.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of $177.9 million. Collaboration revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was primarily related to the initial recognition of the upfront payment from our license and collaboration agreement with DS, product sales to collaboration partners under our supply agreements and royalty revenue from our collaboration agreement with DSE. Collaboration revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily related to the $60.0 million upfront payment from the collaboration with Otsuka and $150.0 million of collaboration revenue from DSE related to the MAA transfer milestone.

Cost of goods sold

Cost of goods sold for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $9.1 million compared to $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of $8.4 million. The increase is primarily related to increased product sales to our collaboration partners from our supply agreements and increased net product sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and the impact of pre-launch inventory on the nine months ended September 30, 2020. NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET became commercially available in the U.S. on March 30, 2020 and June 4, 2020, respectively.

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, were $78.4 million, compared to $105.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of $26.6 million. The decrease in research and development expenses was primarily attributable to a decline in manufacturing costs which were classified as research and development expense prior to FDA approval of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET on February 21, 2020 and February 26, 2020, respectively, as well as an overall reduction in ongoing clinical research activities, including compensation costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, were $146.6 million, compared to $138.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of approximately $8.5 million. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily attributable to a $13.3 million one-time charge associated with a legal settlement offset partially by decreases in advertising, compensation costs, and costs incurred to support the initial launch of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in the U.S. in 2020.

Interest expense

Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, was $32.9 million, compared to $13.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of $19.2 million. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to additional interest expense attributable to the second and third installment payments from our RIPA with Oberland and the Convertible Notes entered in November 2020.

Other income, net

Other income, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, was less than $0.1 million, compared to $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of $0.5 million. The decrease is related to lower interest income on our investments due to lower interest rates.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have funded our operations to date primarily through proceeds from sales of preferred stock, convertible promissory notes and warrants, public offerings of common stock, the incurrence of indebtedness, milestone payments from collaboration agreements and revenue interest purchase agreement. Pursuant to the license and collaboration agreements with DSE and Otsuka, we are eligible for substantial additional sales and regulatory milestone payments and royalties. Pursuant to the license and collaboration agreements with DS, we received an upfront cash payment of $30.0 million in May 2021 and are eligible for substantial additional sales milestone payments and royalties. Pursuant to the amended RIPA with Oberland, we received an additional $50.0 million in May 2021 following the completion of the DS Agreement. The amended RIPA increases the

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revenue interest we will pay Oberland based on the net sales of our products as outlined in Note 8 "Liability Related to the Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement" in our condensed financial statements included in this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021. We anticipate that we will incur losses for the foreseeable future.

As of September 30, 2021, our primary sources of liquidity were our cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash which totaled $153.7 million, which includes $50 million that is restricted per the amendment and waiver with Oberland. We invest our cash equivalents and investments in highly liquid, interest-bearing investment-grade and government securities to preserve principal.

The following table summarizes the primary sources and uses of cash for the periods presented below:


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020
	(in thousands)
Net cash used in operating activities	$	(206,103)	$	(16,627)
Net cash provided by investing activities	—		34,032
Net cash provided by financing activities	54,813		31,285
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	$	(151,290)	$	48,690

Operating Activities

We have incurred and expect to continue to incur, significant costs related to the commercialization of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and related to ongoing research and development, regulatory and other clinical study costs associated with the development of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets.

Net cash used in operating activities totaled $206.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, consisting of net product sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and $30.0 million in upfront fees from DS fully offset by cash used to fund the commercialization activities of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and the research and development costs related to bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets, adjusted for non-cash expenses such as stock-based compensation expense, interest expense related to our RIPA with Oberland, depreciation and amortization and changes in working capital.

Net cash used by operating activities totaled $16.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, consisting of the $150.0 million milestone for the MAA transfer from our collaboration agreement with DSE, $60.0 million from the Otsuka collaboration agreement and net product sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET offset by cash used to fund the commercialization activities of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and the research and development costs related to bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets, adjusted for non-cash expenses such as stock-based compensation expense, interest expense related to our RIPA with Oberland, depreciation and amortization and changes in working capital.

Investing Activities

We did not have cash provided by or used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Net cash provided by investing activities of $34.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, consisted primarily of proceeds from the sale and maturities of highly liquid, interest-bearing investment-grade and government securities.

Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities of $54.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 related primarily to $50 million in cash from our RIPA with Oberland, proceeds from the issuance of common stock and proceeds from exercise of our common stock, offset by payments on our revenue interest liability. Net cash provided by financing activities of $31.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 related primarily to the $25.0 million in cash received from the RIPA with Oberland upon regulatory approval of NEXLETOL and $6.4 million in cash received from stock option exercises.

On August 3, 2021, we filed an automatically effective registration statement on Form S-3ASR, or Registration Statement, with the SEC which registers the offering, issuance and sale of an unspecified amount of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and/or units of any combination thereof. We simultaneously entered into an open market sale agreement with Jefferies LLC, as sales agent, to provide for the issuance and sale by the Company of up to $250 million of common stock from time to time in “at-the-market” offerings under the Registration Statement and related prospectus filed with the Registration Statement, or the ATM Program. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, we issued 363,061 shares of

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common stock resulting in net proceeds of approximately $4.2 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other expenses, pursuant to the ATM Program.

On October 22, 2021, we entered into the Exchange Agreement with Holders of our Convertible Notes. Under the terms of the Exchange Agreement the Holders agreed to exchange with us $15.0 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes held in the aggregate by them (and accrued interest thereon) for shares of our common stock. Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, the number of shares of common stock to be issued by us to the Holders upon consummation of the Exchange will be determined based upon the volume-weighted-average-price per share of common stock, subject to a floor of $5.62 per share, during the five trading-day averaging period, commencing on the trading day immediately following the date of the Exchange Agreement. The Exchange is expected to close on November 3, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. However, the expected closing of the Exchange and expectations regarding future transactions to further improve our balance sheet are not guaranteed.

Plan of Operations and Funding Requirements

We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future in connection with our ongoing CLEAR Outcomes trial and the continued advancement of commercialization activities associated with NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in the U.S. Pursuant to the license and collaboration agreement with DSE and Otsuka, we are eligible for substantial additional sales and regulatory milestone payments and royalties. Pursuant to the license and collaboration agreements with DS, we received an upfront cash payment of $30.0 million in May 2021 and are eligible for substantial additional sales milestone payments and royalties. Pursuant to the amended RIPA with Oberland, we received $50.0 million in May 2021. In return, Oberland will have a right to receive revenue interest payments from us based on net product sales of certain of our products. As the quarterly net revenue from sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and certain other products in the United States did not exceed $15.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, we deposited $50.0 million in a deposit account with Oberland, which reduced our unrestricted cash. Oberland shall have sole dominion and control over all funds deposited in the deposit account and such funds may be withdrawn only with the consent of Oberland. While we reduced operational expense across our organization through the 40% corporate workforce reduction and through targeted program savings, which we expect to be at least $20 million of savings from prior issued mid-point expense guidance in 2021, and estimated annualized cash savings of at least $80 million in 2022, we will have to attempt to secure additional cash resources or implement additional cost reduction initiatives as needed to continue to fund the commercialization and further development of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development and ongoing commercialization of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets and the extent to which we entered and may enter into collaborations with pharmaceutical partners regarding the development and commercialization of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets, we are unable to estimate the amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenses associated with completing the development and commercialization of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:

•our ability to successfully develop and commercialize NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET or other product candidates;

•the costs, timing and outcomes of our CLEAR Outcomes trial and other ongoing clinical studies of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets;

•the time and cost necessary to obtain regulatory approvals for bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets outside the U.S. and Europe;

•our ability to establish any future collaboration or commercialization arrangements on favorable terms, if at all;

•our ability to realize the intended benefits of our existing and future collaboration and partnerships;

•the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property rights and defending intellectual property-related claims;

•the implementation of operational and financial information technology; and

•our ability to successfully implement certain cost reduction initiates, as needed.

Until such time, if ever, as we can generate U.S. substantial product revenues, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of collaborations with third parties, strategic alliances, licensing arrangements, permitted debt

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financings, permitted royalty-based financings and equity offerings or other sources. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a common stockholder. Debt financing, if available and permitted under the terms of our RIPA, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with pharmaceutical partners or royalty-based financing arrangements, such as the collaboration arrangements with DSE, Otsuka and DS and the RIPA with Oberland, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. For instance, as part of the RIPA with Oberland, Oberland has the right to receive certain revenue interests from us based on the net sales of certain products, and we have granted Oberland a senior security interest in certain of our assets. If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to allow us to make required payments, we may have to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets or seek additional capital. If we raise funds by selling additional equity, such sale would result in dilution to our stockholders. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or permitted debt financings or through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements or permitted royalty-based financing arrangements when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves. After taking into account the corporate workforce reduction of approximately 40% and other targeted program savings, and excluding the $50.0 million of restricted cash (which could remain restricted until our secured obligations under the RIPA are satisfied), we expect that our current cash runway allows us to operate into the second quarter of 2022.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

There have been no other material changes to our contractual obligations and commitments outside the ordinary course of business from those previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and in Note 5 “Commitments and Contingencies,” Note 8 "Liability Related to the Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement" and Note 9 "Convertible Notes" in our condensed financial statements included in this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not currently have, nor did we have during the periods presented, any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined by Securities and Exchange Commission rules.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

There have been no material changes with respect to the information appearing in Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 is (1) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer, who is our principal executive officer, and our Chief Financial Officer, who is our principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As of September 30, 2021, our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934). Our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded based upon the evaluation described above that, as of September 30, 2021, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes to our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The information required with respect to this item can be found under “Commitments and Contingencies” in Note 5 to our condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.

In the future, we may become party to legal matters and claims arising in the ordinary course of business, the resolution of which we do not anticipate would have a material adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

For a discussion of our potential risks and uncertainties, see the information under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, or Annual Report. There have been no significant changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report, except as set forth below.

Risks Related to Our Capital Needs

Our payment obligations under the Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement with Oberland may adversely affect our financial position or results of operations and our ability to raise additional capital which in turn may increase our vulnerability to adverse regulatory developments or economic or business downturns.

On June 26, 2019, we entered into the RIPA with Oberland and the Purchasers named therein. Pursuant to the RIPA, Oberland paid us $125.0 million on closing, less certain transaction expenses, and, Oberland paid us an additional $25.0 million in March 2020 upon receiving regulatory approval of NEXLETOL. Pursuant to the RIPA Amendment, we received the final $50.0 million. As consideration for the payments, Oberland has the right to receive certain revenue interests from us based on the net sales of certain products, once approved, which will be tiered payments initially ranging from 3.33% to 10% of our net sales in the covered territory. See in Note 8 "Liability Related to the Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement" in our condensed financial statements included in this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021.

The RIPA and the revenue interest stream payable to Oberland could have important negative consequences to the holders of our securities. For example, a portion of our cash flow from operations will be needed to pay certain revenue interests to Oberland and will not be available to fund future operations. Further, as we failed to achieve the Specified Net Revenue thresholds for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, we deposited $50 million into the Blocked Account, which reduced our unrestricted cash and could have a material adverse effect.

Payment requirements under the RIPA will increase our cash outflows. Our future operating performance is subject to market conditions and business factors that are beyond our control. If our cash inflows and capital resources are insufficient to allow us to make required payments, we may have to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets or seek additional capital. If we raise funds by selling additional equity, such sale would result in dilution to our stockholders. There is no assurance that if we are required to secure funding we can do so on terms acceptable to us, or at all. Failure to pay certain amounts to Oberland when due would result in a default under the RIPA and result in foreclosure on certain of our assets which would have a material adverse effect.

The RIPA contains customary affirmative and negative non-financial covenants and events of default, including, covenants and restrictions that among other things, grant a senior security interest in our assets and restrict our ability to incur liens, incur additional indebtedness, make loans and investments, engage in mergers and acquisitions, and engage in asset sales. Additionally, the Purchasers under the RIPA have an option (the “Put Option”) to terminate the RIPA and to require the Company to repurchase future Revenue Interests upon enumerated events such as a bankruptcy event, an uncured material breach, a material adverse effect (which can include adverse developments related to the regulatory approval of our product candidates) or a change of control. The triggering of the Put Option, including by our failure to comply with these covenants, could permit the Purchasers to declare certain amounts to be immediately due and payable. If we default under the terms of the RIPA, including by failure to make such accelerated payments, the Purchasers take control of our pledged assets. Further, if we are liquidated, the Purchasers’ right to repayment would be senior to the rights of the holders of our common stock. Any triggering of the Put Option or other declaration by the Purchasers of an event of default under the RIPA could significantly harm our financial condition, business and prospects and could cause the price of our common stock to decline.

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Risks Related to Our Financial Position

We have incurred significant operating losses since our inception, and anticipate that we will incur continued losses for the foreseeable future.

Pharmaceutical product development is a highly speculative undertaking and involves a substantial degree of risk. We were incorporated in January 2008. Our operations to date have been limited primarily to organizing and staffing our company and conducting research and development activities for bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet, as well as preparing for the commercial launch and the initial commercial launch of these products. Since the launch of our products, we have generated $40.8 million in revenue from product sales in the U.S. We have obtained regulatory approval for both products from the FDA in the U.S., the EC in Europe and Swissmedic in Switzerland, but have not received approval for bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet from any other regulatory agency. As such, we are subject to all the risks incident to the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of new pharmaceutical products and we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors.

Since our inception, we have focused substantially all of our efforts and financial resources on developing bempedoic acid. We have funded our operations to date primarily through proceeds from sales of preferred stock, public offerings of common stock, convertible promissory notes and warrants, the incurrence of indebtedness, milestone payments from collaboration agreements and revenue interest purchase agreements, and we have incurred losses in each year since our inception. Our net losses were $143.6 million, $97.2 million and $201.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of September 30, 2021, we had an unaudited accumulated deficit of $1.0 billion. Substantially all of our operating losses resulted from costs incurred in connection with our development program and from selling, general and administrative costs associated with our operations. While we will be reducing operational expense across our organization through the 40% corporate workforce reduction and through targeted program savings, we will have to attempt to secure additional cash resources or implement additional cost reduction initiatives as needed to continue to fund the commercialization and further development of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet. After taking into account the 40% corporate workforce reduction and other targeted program savings, and excluding the $50.0 million of restricted cash (which could remain restricted until our secured obligations under the RIPA are satisfied), we expect that our current cash runway allows us to operate into the second quarter of 2022.

Our prior losses, combined with expected future losses, have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity and working capital. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and increasing operating losses for the foreseeable future related to the CLEAR Outcomes trial and to commercialization activities, as well as other related personnel and activities. Our research and development expenses are expected to continue in the foreseeable future as they relate to our ongoing CLEAR Outcomes trial and any other early-stage development programs or additional indications we choose to pursue. We also expect to incur significant sales, marketing and outsourced manufacturing expenses and expect further significant increases in our general and administration expenses in connection with the commercialization of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet, respectively. Even though bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet are approved in the U.S. and Europe for commercial sale, and despite expending these costs, bempedoic acid or the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet may not be commercially successful drugs. As a public company, we have incurred and will continue to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. As a result, we expect to continue to incur significant and increasing operating losses for the foreseeable future. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing pharmaceutical products, we are unable to predict the extent of any future losses or when we will become profitable, if at all. Even if we do become profitable, we may not be able to sustain or increase our profitability on a quarterly or annual basis.

Item 6. Exhibits

The exhibits filed or furnished as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are set forth on the Exhibit Index, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Incorporated by Reference to:

Exhibit
No.

Description

Form or
Schedule

Exhibit
No.

Filing
Date with
SEC

SEC File
Number

31.1*

Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2*

Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1+

Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

101.SCH*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.LAB*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

101.DEF*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

104*

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101.*)

*Filed herewith.

+ The certification furnished in Exhibit 32.1 hereto is deemed to be furnished with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and will not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


	ESPERION THERAPEUTICS, INC.


November 2, 2021	By:	/s/ Sheldon L. Koenig
		Sheldon L. Koenig
		President and Chief Executive Officer
		(Principal Executive Officer)

November 2, 2021	By:	/s/ Richard B. Bartram
		Richard B. Bartram
		Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

Document

Exhibit 31.1

Certification

I, Sheldon L. Koenig, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2021, of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.



Date:	November 2, 2021	/s/ Sheldon L. Koenig
		Sheldon L. Koenig
		President and Chief Executive Officer
		(Principal Executive Officer)

Document

Exhibit 31.2

Certification

I, Richard B. Bartram, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2021, of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.;

b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.



Date:	November 2, 2021	/s/ Richard B. Bartram
		Richard B. Bartram
		Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

Document

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended September 30, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned officers of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc., hereby certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that, to my knowledge as of the date hereof:

1)the Report which this statement accompanies fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2)the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.



Date:	November 2, 2021	/s/ Sheldon L. Koenig
		Sheldon L. Koenig
		President and Chief Executive Officer
		(Principal Executive Officer)

		/s/ Richard B. Bartram
		Richard B. Bartram
		Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)