Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ESPR) announced that bempedoic acid received multiple Class 1 recommendations in the 2026 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Multisociety Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia.

The guidelines recommend bempedoic acid for patients with statin intolerance and those requiring additional LDL cholesterol lowering. Class 1 recommendations represent the strongest level of endorsement, indicating that the treatment is beneficial and should be performed.

The drug received Class 1 recommendations for adults without clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who experience statin-attributed muscle symptoms and are at high risk. It also received the top recommendation for adults with clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who have statin intolerance, adults with diabetes who have statin-attributed side effects, and adults with severe hypercholesterolemia.

Bempedoic acid received equal positioning with PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies and ezetimibe as add-on therapy after statins for certain patient populations. The guidelines also included several Class 2a recommendations for the drug in various patient groups.

"The multiple Class 1 recommendations for bempedoic acid underscore its validation as a rigorously studied, evidence-based therapy for patients who require additional LDL-C lowering or who are unable to tolerate statins," said Sheldon Koenig, President and CEO of Esperion.

The guideline was published in Circulation and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Esperion markets bempedoic acid as NEXLETOL and in combination with ezetimibe as NEXLIZET for cholesterol management and cardiovascular risk reduction.