EXHIBIT (a)(5)(C)


For immediate release:                                   Contact: Paul Fitzhenry
February 5, 2004                                                  (212) 733-4637


         PFIZER INC ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF THE TENDER OFFER RELATING TO
                   ESPERION THERAPEUTICS, INC. COMMON SHARES


NEW YORK, February 5, 2004 - Pfizer Inc announced today that it has completed
the cash tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Esperion
Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR) for $35.00 net per share, without interest.
Approximately 35.6 million shares (including approximately 7.3 million shares
subject to guaranteed delivery) of Esperion's common stock (including the
associated preferred stock purchase rights), representing more than 93 percent
of Esperion's outstanding common stock, were tendered in the offer. Through its
wholly owned subsidiary, Enzo Acquisition Corp., Pfizer has accepted for payment
all validly tendered shares. Payments for accepted shares will be made promptly
through EquiServe Trust, the depositary for the offer.

Pfizer intends to complete its acquisition of Esperion through a merger by early
next week. As a result of the merger, all remaining publicly held shares of
Esperion common stock that were not validly tendered and purchased in the tender
offer, except those shares for which dissenters' rights under applicable law
have been properly exercised, will be converted into the right to receive $35.00
net per share in cash, without interest, subject to applicable withholding.
Following the merger, Esperion will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer.

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