Daiichi torches Esperion’s Nexletol milestone promises

“We know that we will be receiving milestones of $300m and $140m.” So said Esperion’s chief executive officer, Sheldon Koenig, during a conference call earlier this month to discuss data from the Clear Outcomes study of Nexletol.

However, this statement now looks optimistic at best, in light of an SEC filing revealing that Esperion’s partner in Europe, Daiichi Sankyo, does not believe that the data justify paying any milestone at all. With cash running low and a big debt payment looming there are now real doubts about Esperion’s future. The group's stock plunged 67% in early trade.