Merck & Co (NYSE:MRK) Update / Briefing November 09, 2025 07:01 PM ET Speaker0Welcome to the Merkin Co. Incorporated, Rawlway, New Jersey, USA Investor Event. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode until the question and answer session of today's conference. This call is being recorded. If you have any objections, you may disconnect at this time.I would now like to turn the call over to Mr. Peter Dannenbaum, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations. Sir, you may begin.Speaker1Thank you, I ...

Summary of the Conference Call Company and Industry - **Company**: Esperion Therapeutics - **Industry**: Cardiovascular Disease Treatment, specifically focusing on lipid-lowering therapies Key Points and Arguments 1. **Unmet Need in Cardiovascular Disease**: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, with 44% of US adults affected. Over half of these patients do not meet LDL-C goals, and 30% may be unable or unwilling to take statins [7][8][9]. 2. **Clinical Development of Bempedoic Acid**: Esperion's clinical trials for bempedoic acid focused on patients with unmet needs, including those with statin intolerance and primary prevention patients. The trials included a combination of bempedoic acid with low-dose statins and a fixed combination with Ezetimibe [8][10][11]. 3. **Phase Three Trials**: Five placebo-controlled Phase Three trials demonstrated significant reductions in LDL cholesterol and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) across various patient populations, including those with cardiovascular disease and statin intolerance [11][12][13]. 4. **Clear Outcomes Study**: This unique trial validated that bempedoic acid reduces cardiovascular risk by lowering LDL cholesterol. It included both primary and secondary prevention patients and showed a 13% relative risk reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) [12][13][14]. 5. **Safety Profile**: Bempedoic acid was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to placebo. Myalgia was the most common side effect, but the incidence was lower than with statins [22][23]. 6. **Market Positioning**: Bempedoic acid is the only non-statin FDA-approved drug with data in primary prevention patients, addressing a significant unmet need in cardiovascular risk reduction [25][26]. 7. **Real-World Experience**: Doctor Moriarty emphasized the importance of early intervention in atherosclerosis and noted that bempedoic acid has been effective in managing patients with statin intolerance, achieving up to a 40% reduction in LDL [50][52]. 8. **Patient Preferences**: There is a strong preference among patients for oral therapies over injectables due to convenience and cost considerations [55][56]. 9. **Future Directions**: The potential for combining bempedoic acid with statins and other therapies is being explored, with ongoing studies to assess the efficacy of triple combination therapies [86][90]. Other Important but Possibly Overlooked Content 1. **Educational Gaps**: There is a lack of awareness among some healthcare providers regarding the benefits and availability of bempedoic acid, which may hinder its adoption [96][97]. 2. **Inflammation and Cardiovascular Risk**: The discussion highlighted the importance of addressing inflammation in cardiovascular disease, with bempedoic acid showing promise in lowering inflammatory markers like hsCRP and RDW [46][48][49]. 3. **Cost Considerations**: The cost of therapies remains a significant factor in prescribing practices, with generics being preferred due to their affordability [76][90]. This summary encapsulates the key insights from the conference call, focusing on the clinical development, market positioning, and real-world application of bempedoic acid in treating cardiovascular disease.