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Biopharma Buys 'Insurance Policy Ahead of First Commercial Launch'

Streetwise Reports, Streetwise Reports
0 Comments| July 3, 2019

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The terms of the financial transaction and the potential reasons for it are discussed in a BTIG report.

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In a June 26 research note, BTIG analyst Thomas Shrader reported that Esperion Therapeutics Inc. (ESPR:NASDAQ) agreed to an "up to $200 capped, tiered and revenue-based funding arrangement with a New York-based investment firm."

This deal comes before Esperion's maiden commercial launch, of its lipid lowering agent bempedoic acid, and would boost the company's pro forma Q1/19 cash position to $355 million.

BTIG views the capital arrangement as "an insurance policy" for Esperion that "reflects a competitive landscape for bempedoic acid undergoing some flux," Shrader noted. He indicated potential headwinds to the commercial uptake of bempedeoic acid and the bempedeoic acid-ezetimibe combination tablet include "Amarin's Vascepa and recent price reductions of PCSK9s."

Per the financial agreement, Esperion will receive an upfront payment of $125 million, another $25 million upon U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of bempedoic acid and another potential $50 million, by option, in the first two years after product launch when the company achieves certain, undisclosed revenue objectives.

The initial royalty rate is set at 7.5% on U.S. net revenue below $250 million from sales of bempedoic acid and bempedoic acid-ezetimibe. The rate will decrease to 2.5% in 2021 when Esperion hits those same revenue objectives. It will drop again to 0.4% in 2024 if the company, by then, has repaid all of the capital it received via the arrangement.

Shrader relayed that Esperion management remains confident it will commercially debut its product in the U.S. It guided to having up to 45% of commercial and 20% of Medicare Part D lives covered at the launch, up to 60% commercial and 40% Part D lives covered by six months and up to 75% commercial and 60% Part D lives covered by 12 months post launch.

Shrader pointed out that "Chief Commercial Officer Mark Glickman previously was vice president of sales and marketing at Kos Pharmaceuticals, arguably the only other company of comparable size to successfully compete in the lipid management space."

BTIG has a Buy rating and an $82 per share price target on Esperion, whose current share price is about $46.02.

Disclosure:
1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.
2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.
3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.
5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases.

Disclosures from BTIG, Esperion Therapeutics Inc., June 26, 2019

Analyst Certification I, Thomas Shrader, PhD, CFA, hereby certify that the views about the companies and securities discussed in this report are accurately expressed and that I have not received and will not receive direct or indirect compensation in exchange for expressing specific recommendations or views in this report.
I, Julian Harrison, hereby certify that the views about the companies and securities discussed in this report are accurately expressed and that I have not received and will not receive direct or indirect compensation in exchange for expressing specific recommendations or views in this report.

The research analyst(s) responsible for the preparation of this report receives compensation based upon a variety of factors, including the quality and accuracy of research, internal/client feedback, and overall Firm revenues.



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