UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): June 18, 2020
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | | 001-35986 | | 26-1870780 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation) | | (Commission File Number) | | (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
3891 Ranchero Drive, Suite 150
Ann Arbor, MI | | 48108 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (734) 887-3903
Not Applicable
Former name or former address, if changed since last report
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | | Trading Symbol | | 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 is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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. ¨
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On June 18, 2020, Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into Amendment No. 1 (“the LCA Amendment”) to the License and Collaboration Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH (“DSE”), dated as of January 2, 2019. Earlier this month, Esperion completed the transfer of Marketing Authorization Approvals (MAA) for NILEMDO™ (bempedoic acid) and NUSTENDI™ (bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination). Pursuant to the terms of the LCA Amendment, DSE will now pay Esperion the second $150 million milestone based on completion of the NUSTENDI MAA transfer rather than the first product sale in the EU, as previously announced. Prior to the execution of the LCA Amendment, the milestone payment was due upon the first commercial sale in Europe, which is anticipated later this year.
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 product in Turkey.
The foregoing description of the material terms of the Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Agreement, which the Company intends to file, with confidential terms redacted, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On June 22, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing the entry into the LCA Amendment. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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 hereunto duly authorized.
| Date: June 22, 2020 | Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. |
| | | |
| | By: | /s/ Tim M. Mayleben |
| | | Tim M. Mayleben |
| | | President and Chief Executive Officer |
