Frequently Asked Questions

Bempedoic acid is the active ingredient in NEXLETOL, as well as a component of NEXLIZET (in addition to ezetimibe), that has been shown to significantly reduce LDL-C levels when added to diet and maximally tolerated statins. Bempedoic acid was studied in clinical trials of patients with ASCVD and/or HeFH who needed additional LDL-C lowering on top of diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy.1-3

053 Trial (Study 1) was a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, Phase 3 trial in 301 patients randomized 2:2:2:1 to receive NEXLIZET (n=86), bempedoic acid (n=88), ezetimibe (n=86), or placebo (n=41). 053 Trial included patients aged ≥18 years with fasting LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL if they had ASCVD and/or HeFH, or ≥130 mg/dL if they had multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Therapies were added to whatever patient’s maximally tolerated statin dose was (including no statin at all). Primary endpoint was % change from baseline to Week 12 in LDL-C. Secondary endpoint was % change from baseline to Week 12 in hsCRP, non-HDL-C, total C, apolipoprotein B, HDL-C, and TGs.1,2

CLEAR Harmony (Study 1) was a 52-week, randomized, double-blind, Phase 3 trial in 2,230 patients randomized 2:1 to receive NEXLETOL (n=1,488) or placebo (n=742). CLEAR Harmony included patients aged ≥18 years with fasting LDL-C ≥70 mg/dL, and high-risk patients with ASCVD and/or HeFH. NEXLETOL was added to whatever patient’s maximally tolerated statin dose was, either alone or with other lipid-lowering therapies. Primary endpoint was general safety, which included ARs, clinical safety laboratories, physical examinations, vital signs, and electrocardiogram. Secondary endpoint was % change from baseline to Week 12 in LDL-C⁠.⁠4,5

CLEAR Wisdom (Study 2) was a 52-week, randomized, double-blind, Phase 3 trial in 779 patients randomized 2:1 to receive NEXLETOL (n=522) or placebo (n=257). CLEAR Wisdom included patients aged ≥18 years with fasting LDL-C ≥70 mg/dL, and high-risk patients with ASCVD and/or HeFH. NEXLETOL was added to whatever patient’s maximally tolerated statin dose was (including no statin at all), either alone or with other lipid-lowering therapies. Primary endpoint was % change from baseline to Week 12 in LDL-C. Secondary endpoints were % change from baseline to Week 24 in LDL-C, % change from baseline to Week 12 in non-HDL-C, total C, apolipoprotein B, and hsCRP, and absolute change from baseline to Weeks 12 and 24 in LDL-C.6,7

In addition to NEXLIZET, patients receiving maximally tolerated statin therapy were included in the clinical trial. High-intensity statins included: atorvastatin 40 mg to 80 mg and rosuvastatin 20 mg to 40 mg.1,2

When NEXLIZET is coadministered with simvastatin, limit simvastatin dosage to 20-mg daily. When NEXLIZET is coadministered with pravastatin, limit pravastatin dosage to 40-mg daily.1

When NEXLIZET is coadministered with1:


  • Simvastatin or Pravastatin: Coadministration with bempedoic acid results in increased concentrations and increased risk of simvastatin- or pravastatin-related myopathy. Use of NEXLIZET with greater than 20 mg of simvastatin or 40 mg of pravastatin should be avoided
  • Cyclosporine: Monitor cyclosporine concentrations; the potential effects of the increased exposure to ezetimibe from concomitant use should be carefully weighed against the benefits of alterations in lipid levels provided by NEXLIZET
  • Fibrates: Coadministration of NEXLIZET with fibrates other than fenofibrate is not recommended. Fenofibrate and ezetimibe may increase cholesterol excretion into the bile, leading to cholelithiasis
  • Cholestyramine: Concomitant use with NEXLIZET decreases ezetimibe concentration. This may result in a reduction of efficacy. Administer NEXLIZET either at least 2 hours before, or at least 4 hours after, bile acid sequestrants

In addition to NEXLETOL, patients receiving maximally tolerated statin therapy were included in the clinical trials. Low-intensity statins included: simvastatin 10 mg; pravastatin 10 mg to 20 mg; lovastatin 20 mg; fluvastatin 20 mg to 40 mg; pitavastatin 1 mg; low-intensity statins also included those patients taking low-dose statins using an alternate regimen (ie, every other day, or for a specified number of times per week) and those unable to tolerate any statin at any dose. Moderate-intensity statins included: atorvastatin 10 mg to 20 mg; rosuvastatin 5 mg to 10 mg; simvastatin 20 mg to 40 mg; pravastatin 40 mg to 80 mg; lovastatin 40 mg; fluvastatin XL 80 mg; fluvastatin 40 mg; pitavastatin 2 mg to 4 mg. High-intensity statins included: atorvastatin 40 mg to 80 mg; rosuvastatin 20 mg to 40 mg.4,6

When NEXLETOL is coadministered with simvastatin, limit simvastatin dosage to 20-mg daily. When NEXLETOL is coadministered with pravastatin, limit pravastatin dosage to 40-mg daily.3

053 Trial results showed a significant 38% mean LDL-C reduction with NEXLIZET compared to placebo at 12 weeks (P<0.001), for extra control on top of a statin.1

In the primary analysis populations, CLEAR Harmony results showed a significant 18% mean LDL-C reduction with NEXLETOL compared to placebo at 12 weeks (P<0.001), and CLEAR Wisdom results showed a significant 17% mean LDL-C reduction with NEXLETOL compared to placebo at 12 weeks (P<0.001), for extra control on top of a statin. LDL-C reductions were also achieved in the subgroup populations: patients taking low to moderate and high-intensity statins.3-7

In the clinical trial for NEXLIZET, the most common ARs reported in ≥3% of patients in the NEXLIZET group were: urinary tract infection, nasopharyngitis, constipation, back pain, fatigue, upper respiratory tract infection, blood creatinine increased, blood uric acid increased, and bronchitis.1,8

To learn more about the incidence of ARs occurring in pivotal trials of bempedoic acid or ezetimibe that did not occur at a significant rate in the pivotal trial of NEXLIZET, please visit our NEXLIZET safety page.1

In the clinical trials for NEXLETOL, the most common ARs reported in ≥2% of patients with ASCVD and HeFH using NEXLETOL (and more frequently than with placebo) were: upper respiratory tract infection, muscle spasms, hyperuricemia, back pain, abdominal pain or discomfort, bronchitis, pain in extremity, anemia, and elevated liver enzymes.3

NEXLIZET and NEXLETOL offer oral, once-daily dosing with the flexibility to be combined with existing lipid-lowering medications for appropriate patients.* They can be taken with or without food and no titration is necessary. NEXLIZET is dosed as one 180-mg bempedoic acid/10-mg ezetimibe tablet for all appropriate patients. NEXLETOL is dosed as one 180-mg bempedoic acid tablet for all appropriate patients.1,3

NEXLIZET and NEXLETOL are appropriate for a range of patient types requiring added LDL-C lowering on top of diet and a maximally tolerated statin therapy, including a range of ASCVD patient types as well as HeFH patients.1-3

*Administer NEXLIZET either at least 2 hours before, or at least 4 hours after, bile acid sequestrants.1

Concomitant use of simvastatin, pravastatin, cyclosporine, fibrates, or cholestyramine with NEXLIZET, or of simvastatin or pravastatin with NEXLETOL, may require adjustments for these medications. Please see "Drug Interactions" in the Important Safety Information below.1,3

Bempedoic acid is the active ingredient in NEXLETOL, as well as a component of NEXLIZET (in addition to ezetimibe).1,3,9-11

Bempedoic acid is the first and only ACL inhibitor, working complementary to statins to lower LDL-C. It works along the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, 2 steps upstream from the primary target of statins. By inhibiting ACL, bempedoic acid decreases cholesterol biosynthesis, resulting in upregulation of LDL receptors and increased clearance of LDL-C from the bloodstream.1,3,9-11

NEXLIZET also contains ezetimibe, which reduces cholesterol absorption in the intestine. Ezetimibe decreases hepatic cholesterol stores, lowering circulating LDL-C⁠.⁠1,3,9-11

Broad coverage is offered for your patients with ASCVD and/or HeFH on both commercial and Medicare Part D plans. Use ASCVD and HeFH ICD-10-CM codes to start your appropriate patients on NEXLIZET or NEXLETOL today.

Prior authorization support is also available to streamline the process for your practice on behalf of your patients.

The NEXLIZET & NEXLETOL Co-Pay Savings Program can also help your patients save money once they are ready to pick up their prescription.

For additional information about savings and resources for your patients, please visit our Resources page.

ACL=adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase; AR=adverse reaction; ASCVD=atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; HeFH=heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; hsCRP=high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; LDL-C=low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; non-HDL-C=non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TGs=triglycerides; total C=total cholesterol.

References: 1. NEXLIZET. Prescribing information. Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.; 09/2021. 2. Data on file. CSR 1002-053. January 2019. 3. NEXLETOL. Prescribing information. Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.; 09/2021. 4. Data on file. CSR 1002-040. October 2018. 5. Ray KK, Bays HE, Catapano AL, et al. Safety and efficacy of bempedoic acid to reduce LDL cholesterol. N Engl J Med. 2019;380(11):1022-1032. 6. Data on file. CSR 1002-047. January 2019. 7. Goldberg AC, Leiter LA, Stroes ESG, et al. Effect of bempedoic acid vs placebo added to maximally tolerated statins on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease: the CLEAR Wisdom randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2019;322(18):1780-1788. 8. Ballantyne CM, Laufs U, Ray KK, et al. Bempedoic acid plus ezetimibe fixed-dose combination in patients with hypercholesterolemia and high CVD risk treated with maximally tolerated statin therapy. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2020;27(6):593-603. 9. Pinkosky SL, Newton RS, Day EA, et al. Liver-specific ATP-citrate lyase inhibition by bempedoic acid decreases LDL-C and attenuates atherosclerosis. Nat Commun. 2016;7(13457):1-13. 10. Pinkosky SL, Filippov S, Srivastava RA, et al. AMP-activated protein kinase and ATP-citrate lyase are two distinct molecular targets for ETC-1002, a novel small molecule regulator of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. J Lipid Res. 2013;54(1):134-151. 11. Saeed A, Ballantyne CM. Bempedoic acid (ETC-1002): a current review. Cardiol Clin. 2018;36(2):257-264.

RESULTS WITH NEXLIZET