Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors. We discuss factors that we believe could cause or contribute to these differences below and elsewhere in this report, including those set forth under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and under “Forward-Looking Statements” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview

Corporate Overview

We are the Lipid Management Company, a pharmaceutical company singularly focused on developing and commercializing affordable, oral, once-daily, non-statin medicines for patients struggling with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or LDL-C. Our team of lipid experts are dedicated to lowering bad cholesterol through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines and their combinations with established medicines. Our first two products were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, European Medicines Agency, or EMA and Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, or Swissmedic, in 2020. Bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets are oral, once-daily, non-statin, LDL-C lowering medicines for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or ASCVD, or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, or HeFH.

On February 21, 2020, we announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, approved NEXLETOL as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with HeFH or established ASCVD who require additional lowering of LDL-C. The effect of NEXLETOL on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been determined. NEXLETOL is the first oral, once-daily, non-statin LDL-C lowering medicine approved since 2002 for indicated patients. NEXLETOL became commercially available in the U.S. on March 30, 2020.

On February 26, 2020, we announced that the FDA approved NEXLIZET as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with HeFH or established ASCVD who require additional lowering of LDL-C. The effect of NEXLIZET on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been determined. NEXLIZET is the first non-statin, LDL-C lowering fixed combination drug product ever approved. NEXLIZET became commercially available in the U.S. on June 4, 2020.

On April 6, 2020, we announced that the European Commission, or EC, approved NILEMDO (bempedoic acid) and NUSTENDI (bempedoic acid and ezetimibe) tablets for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia. The decision is applicable to all 27 European Union member states plus the United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. NILEMDO (bempedoic acid) and NUSTENDI (bempedoic acid and ezetimibe) are the branded product names for bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets in Europe. NILEMDO is the first, oral, non-statin, LDL-C lowering medicine approved in Europe in almost two decades for indicated patients, and NUSTENDI is the first non-statin, LDL-C lowering combination medicine ever approved in Europe. In November 2020, we announced the commercial launch of NILEMDO and NUSTENDI in Germany. In December 2020, we announced the approval of NILEMDO and NUSTENDI in Switzerland. With respect to the United Kingdom, on January 1, 2021 all existing centralized marketing authorizations (which applied to our marketing authorizations for NILEMDO and NUSTENDI) were automatically converted to Great Britain marketing authorizations (under the Northern Ireland Protocol, centralized marketing authorizations remain valid for marketing products in Northern Ireland).

On April 17, 2020, we entered into a license and collaboration agreement, or the Otsuka Agreement, with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., or Otsuka. Pursuant to the Otsuka Agreement, we granted Otsuka exclusive development and commercialization rights to NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in Japan. Otsuka will be responsible for all development, regulatory, and commercialization activities in Japan. In addition, Otsuka will fund all clinical development costs associated with the program in Japan. We estimate this amount to total up to $100 million over the next few years. We received an upfront cash payment of $60 million in April 2020 and will receive up to an additional $450 million in total development and sales milestones. We will also receive tiered royalties ranging from 15 percent to 30 percent on net sales in Japan.

In 2019 we entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH, or DSE. Pursuant to the agreement, we have granted DSE exclusive commercialization rights to bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet in the European Economic Area and Switzerland, or the DSE Territory. DSE will be responsible for

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commercialization in the DSE Territory. We remain responsible for clinical development, regulatory and manufacturing activities for the licensed products globally, including in the DSE Territory. On June 18, 2020, we entered into an amendment to the license and collaboration agreement, or LCA Amendment, with DSE. In June 2020, we completed the transfer of the MAAs for NILEMDO and NUSTENDI. Pursuant to the terms of the amendment, DSE paid us the second $150 million milestone based on completion of the NUSTENDI MAA transfer rather than the first product sale in the EU. Prior to the execution of the LCA Amendment, the milestone payment was due upon the first commercial sale in Europe. Additionally, we and DSE have agreed to expand the territory in which DSE has exclusive commercialization rights to NILEMDO and NUSTENDI to include Turkey. DSE’s designated affiliate in Turkey will be solely responsible, at its sole cost and expense, for all regulatory matters relating to such products in Turkey, including obtaining regulatory approval for such product in Turkey.

On June 26, 2019, we entered into a Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement, or RIPA, with Eiger II SA LLC, or Oberland, an affiliate of Oberland Capital LLC, and the Purchasers named therein. Pursuant to the RIPA, Oberland paid us $125.0 million on closing, less certain issuance costs and $25.0 million in March 2020 upon receiving regulatory approval of NEXLETOL. Subject to the RIPA, we are eligible for an additional $50.0 million at our option upon reaching certain sales thresholds. As consideration for the payments, Oberland has the right to receive certain revenue interests from us based on the net sales of certain products, once approved, which will be tiered payments initially ranging from 2.5% to 7.5% of our net sales in the covered territory. The initial mid-single digit repayment rate on U.S. revenue steps down to less than one percent rate upon certain revenue achievements. Esperion reacquires 100% revenue rights upon repayment completion. Refer to Note 11 to our audited financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

On November 16, 2020, we issued $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.00% convertible senior subordinated notes due 2025 to certain financial institutions as the initial purchasers of the convertible notes. An additional $30.0 million of additional convertible notes (collectively, the "Convertible Notes"), which were issued pursuant to the exercise of the initial purchasers' option to purchase such convertible notes, closed on November 16, 2020. In connection with the offering of the Convertible Notes, we entered into a prepaid forward stock repurchase transaction (“Prepaid Forward”) with a financial institution and entered into privately-negotiated capped call transactions with one of the initial purchasers of the Convertible Notes or its affiliate and certain other financial institutions. Pursuant to the Prepaid Forward, the Company used approximately $55.0 million and $46.0 million of the net proceeds from the offering of the Convertible Notes to fund the Prepaid Forward and the Capped Call, respectively. Refer to Note 12 to our audited financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We are conducting a global cardiovascular outcomes trial, or CVOT, – known as Cholesterol Lowering via BEmpedoic Acid, an ACL-inhibiting Regimen (CLEAR) Outcomes. The trial is designed to evaluate whether treatment with bempedoic acid reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in patients who are statin averse and who have CVD or are at high risk for CVD. We initiated the CLEAR Outcomes CVOT in December 2016 and fully enrolled the study with over 14,000 patients in August 2019. The primary endpoint of the study is the effect of bempedoic acid on four types of major adverse cardiovascular events, or MACE (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, or coronary revascularization; also referred to as "four-component MACE"). CLEAR Outcomes is an event-driven trial and will conclude once the predetermined number of MACE endpoints occur. Based on estimated cardiovascular event rates, we expect to meet the target number of events in the second half of 2022. We intend to use positive results from this CVOT to support submissions for a CV risk reduction indication in the U.S., Europe and other territories.

We were incorporated in Delaware in January 2008, and commenced our operations in April 2008. Since our inception, we have focused substantially all of our efforts and financial resources on developing bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe tablet. In February 2020, the FDA approved NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET. NEXLETOL was commercially available in the U.S. on March 30, 2020 and NEXLIZET was commercially available in the U.S. on June 4, 2020. We have funded our operations to date primarily through proceeds from sales of preferred stock, convertible promissory notes and warrants, public offerings of common stock, the incurrence of indebtedness, through collaborations with third parties and revenue interest purchase agreements. We have incurred losses in each year since our inception.

We have never been profitable and our net losses were $143.6 million, $97.2 million and $201.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Substantially all of our net losses resulted from costs incurred in connection with research and development programs, selling, general and administrative costs associated with our operations. We expect to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future. We expect our expenses to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, including, among others:

•commercializing NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET tablets in the U.S; and

•completing the clinical development activities for the CLEAR Outcomes CVOT.

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Accordingly, we may need additional financing to support our continuing operations and further the development of our products. We may seek to fund our operations and further development activities through collaborations with third parties, strategic alliances, licensing arrangements, permitted debt financings, permitted royalty-based financings, permitted public or private equity offerings or through other sources. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise capital as and when needed would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategy or continue operations. We will need to generate significant revenues to achieve profitability, and we may never do so.

Product Overview

NEXLETOL is a first-in-class ATP Citrate Lyase, or ACL, inhibitor that lowers LDL-C by reducing cholesterol biosynthesis and up-regulating the LDL receptors. Completed Phase 3 studies conducted in more than 3,000 patients, with over 2,000 patients treated with NEXLETOL, demonstrated an average 18 percent placebo corrected LDL-C lowering when used in patients on moderate or high-intensity statins. NEXLETOL was approved by the FDA in February 2020 as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with HeFH or established ASCVD who require additional lowering of LDL-C.

NEXLIZET contains bempedoic acid and ezetimibe and lowers elevated LDL-C through complementary mechanisms of action by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in the liver and absorption in the intestine. Phase 3 data demonstrated NEXLIZET lowered LDL-C by a mean of 38 percent compared to placebo when added on to maximally tolerated statins. NEXLIZET was approved by the FDA in February 2020 as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with HeFH or established ASCVD who require additional lowering of LDL-C.

NILEMDO is a first-in-class ACL inhibitor that lowers LDL-C by reducing cholesterol biosynthesis and up-regulating the LDL receptors. NILEMDO was approved by the EC in March 2020 for use in adults with primary hypercholesterolemia (heterozygous familial and non-familial) or mixed dyslipidemia, as an adjunct to diet in combination with a statin or statin with other lipid-lowering therapies in adult patients unable to reach LDL-C goals with the maximum tolerated dose of a statin, or alone or in combination with other lipid-lowering therapies as an adjunct to diet in adult patients who are statin-intolerant, or for whom a statin is contraindicated.

NUSTENDI contains bempedoic acid and ezetimibe and lowers elevated LDL-C through complementary mechanisms of action by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in the liver and absorption in the intestine. NUSTENDI was approved by the EC in March 2020 for use in adults with primary hypercholesterolemia (heterozygous familial and non-familial) or mixed dyslipidemia, as an adjunct to diet in combination with a statin in adult patients unable to reach LDL-C goals with the maximum tolerated dose of a statin in addition to ezetimibe, alone in patients who are either statin-intolerant or for whom a statin is contraindicated, and are unable to reach LDL-C goals with ezetimibe alone, or as an adjunct to diet in adult patients already being treated with the combination of bempedoic acid and ezetimibe as separate tablets with or without statin.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, we incurred $70.4 million in expenses related to our CLEAR Outcomes CVOT and other ongoing clinical studies.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, we incurred $108.9 million in expenses related to our CLEAR Outcomes CVOT, our open-label extension study, and our 1002-FDC-058 study.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, we incurred $121.7 million in expenses related to the four studies in our global pivotal Phase 3 LDL-C lowering program, our CLEAR Outcomes CVOT, our 1002FDC-053 study, our open-label extension study, our 1002-FDC-058 study and our Phase 2 (1002-39) clinical study of bempedoic acid when added-on to an injectable proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor, or PCSK9i, therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

The COVID-19 Pandemic

The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic, or the future outbreak of any other highly infectious or contagious diseases, may impact our business, including our CVOT and commercialization efforts will depend on continuously changing circumstances, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time, such as the duration of such pandemic including future waves of infection or the broad availability of an effective vaccine, the actions taken to contain the pandemic or mitigate its impact, and the direct and indirect economic effects of the pandemic and containment measures, among others. The ongoing fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic but it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The COVID-19 pandemic may also have the effect of heightening the risks to which we are subject, including various aspects of our ongoing CVOT, the reliance on third parties

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in our supply chain for materials and manufacturing of our drugs and drug candidates, disruptions in health regulatory agencies' operations globally, the volatility of our common stock, our ability to access capital markets, and our ability to successfully commercialize and generate revenue from our approved drugs.

We are continuing to assess the long-term impact of COVID-19 on our business operations in an effort to mitigate interruption to our commercialization of our approved drugs and other business activities and to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, as well as the physicians and patients participating in our CVOT. Because COVID-19 infections have been reported throughout the U.S. and worldwide, certain national, state, and local governmental authorities have issued orders, proclamations, and/or directives aimed at minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Although some of these restrictions were eased or lifted, in response to local surges and new waves of infection, some countries, states, and local governments have reinstituted these restrictions, and additional, more restrictive orders, proclamations, and/or directives may be issued in the future. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have implemented precautionary measures to protect the health and safety of our employees, partners, and patients, including encouraging all employees to work-from-home if able to perform their duties remotely, and requiring adherence to onsite occupancy limits and appropriate safety measures designed to comply with federal, state, and local guidelines.

Our ability to successfully launch, commercialize, and generate revenue from NEXLETOL, NEXLIZET, NILEMDO and NUSTENDI may be adversely affected by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Physicians’ offices and other medical institutions continue to have limited access for non-patients, which includes our sales personnel. In addition, social distancing requirements and precautionary measures due to COVID-19 have impacted the ability of our sales personnel to interact in-person with customers. As a result, in many circumstances we have needed to limit our interactions with physicians and payors and adapt our launch strategies and tactics to a virtual model, including developing and deploying various technology-enabled platforms for virtual engagement such as remote detailing, digital and non-personal marketing channels, and social media. These circumstances may adversely affect the ability of our sales professionals to effectively market our approved drugs to physicians and the rates of uptakes for our approved drugs, which may have a negative impact on our sales and our market penetration. In addition, patient visits with physicians have decreased as a result of COVID-19, due to travel restrictions, social distancing requirements, prioritization of healthcare resources to address the pandemic, and/or fear of exposure to the virus, which could have a material adverse impact on new patient starts and overall patient treatment volume. Market disruption and rising unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to delays in obtaining insurance coverage and reimbursement of newly approved products.

While it is not possible at this time to estimate the entirety of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our business or operations, the continued spread or future waves of COVID-19, measures taken by governments, actions taken to protect employees, and the broad impact of the pandemic on all business activities may materially and adversely affect our preclinical activities, clinical development progress, data and timelines, commercialization efforts including any revenue from sales, supply chain continuity, and general business operations, and our business, prospects, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially harmed as a result.

To date, we have not experienced any interruption of our supply of drug products needed to support our ongoing clinical study and product sales. We remain focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet, liquidity and financial flexibility and continue to monitor developments as we deal with the disruptions and uncertainties from a business and financial perspective relating to COVID-19. We will continue to work diligently with our partners and stakeholders to continue supporting patient access to our approved medicines, advancing our product under regulatory review as well as in our clinical studies to the extent safe to do so for patients, caregivers and healthcare practitioners, and ensuring the continuity of our manufacturing and supply chain. For additional information related to the potential impact of COVID-19 on our business, please read Part I-Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Financial Operations Overview

Product sales, net

Product sales, net is related to our sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET. NEXLETOL was commercially available in the U.S. on March 30, 2020 and NEXLIZET was commercially available in the U.S. on June 4, 2020

Collaboration revenue

Collaboration revenue is related to our collaboration agreements with DSE and Otsuka. Collaboration revenue in the year ended December 31, 2020, was primarily related to the $150.0 million milestone from the MAA transfer to DSE and the $60.0 million from the upfront payment with Otsuka. During the year ended December 31, 2019, collaboration revenue was primarily

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related to the initial recognition of the $150.0 million upfront payment from our collaboration agreement with DSE. Under contracted supply agreements with ex-U.S. collaborators, we may manufacture and supply quantities of active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, or bulk tablets reasonably required by ex-U.S. collaboration partners for the development or sale of licensed products in their respective territory. We recognize revenue when the collaboration partner has obtained control of the API or bulk tablets. We also receive royalties from the commercialization of such products, and records our share of the variable consideration, representing a percentage of net product sales, as collaboration revenue in the period in which such underlying sales occur and costs are incurred by the collaborators.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold is related to our net product sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and the cost of goods sold from our supply agreements with collaboration partners. Prior to the FDA approval of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET, expenses associated with the manufacturing of our products were recorded as research and development expense.

Research and Development Expenses

Our research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred in connection with the development of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet, which include:

•expenses incurred under agreements with consultants, contract research organizations, or CROs, and investigative sites that conduct our preclinical and clinical studies;

•the cost of acquiring, developing and manufacturing clinical study materials and commercial product manufacturing supply prior to product approval, including the procurement of ezetimibe in our continued development of our bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet;

•employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, stock-based compensation and travel expenses;

•allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities, insurance and other supplies; and

•costs related to compliance with regulatory requirements.

We expense research and development costs as incurred. To date, substantially all of our research and development work has been related to bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets. Costs for certain development activities, such as clinical studies, are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations or information provided to us by our vendors. Our direct research and development expenses consist principally of external costs, such as fees paid to investigators, consultants, central laboratories and CROs in connection with our clinical studies. We do not allocate acquiring and manufacturing clinical study materials, salaries, stock-based compensation, employee benefits or other indirect costs related to our research and development function to specific programs.

We will continue to incur research and development expenses in the foreseeable future as they relate to our ongoing CLEAR Outcomes CVOT and any other development programs or additional indications we choose to pursue. We cannot determine with certainty the duration and completion costs associated with the ongoing or future clinical studies of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets. The duration, costs and timing associated with the development of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets will depend on a variety of factors, including uncertainties associated with the results of our clinical studies and our ability to obtain regulatory approval outside the U.S. and Europe. For example, if a regulatory authority were to require us to conduct clinical studies beyond those that we currently anticipate will be required for the completion of clinical development or post-commercialization clinical studies of bempedoic acid or the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets, we could be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development or post-commercialization clinical studies of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets.

In accordance with ASC 730-10-25-1, Research and Development, costs incurred in obtaining in-licenses are charged to research and development expense if the in-licensed technology has not reached commercial feasibility and has no alternative future use. Such licenses purchased by us require substantial completion of research and development, regulatory and marketing approval efforts in order to reach commercial feasibility and has no alternative future use.

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses primarily consist of salaries and related costs for personnel, including stock-based compensation, associated with our sales, executive, accounting and finance, commercial, operational and other administrative functions. Other general and administrative expenses include selling expenses, facility-related costs, communication expenses and professional fees for legal, patent prosecution, protection and review, consulting and accounting services.

We anticipate that our selling, general and administrative expenses will increase in the future in connection with the commercialization of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET, increases in our headcount, expansion of our information technology infrastructure, and increased expenses associated with being a public company and complying with exchange listing and Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, requirements. These increases will likely include higher legal, compliance, accounting and investor and public relations expenses.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 was related to our RIPA with Oberland and our Convertible Notes. Costs during the year ended December 31, 2019 related to our RIPA with Oberland.

Other Income

Other income, net, primarily relates to interest income and the accretion of premiums and discounts earned on our cash, cash equivalents and investment securities.

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our financial statements. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis, including those related to our collaboration agreements and revenue interest liability. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, contractual milestones and other various factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in Note 2 to our audited financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We believe the following accounting policies to be most critical to understanding our results and financial operations.

Product Sales, Net

We sell NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET to wholesalers in the U.S and, in accordance with ASC 606, recognizes revenue at the point in time when the customer is deemed to have obtained control of the product. The customer is deemed to have obtained control of the product at the time of physical receipt of the product at the customers’ distribution facilities, or free on board (“FOB”) destination, the terms of which are designated in the contract.

Product sales are recorded at the net selling price, which includes estimates of variable consideration for which reserves are established for (a) rebates and chargebacks, (b) co-pay assistance programs, (c) distribution fees, (d) product returns, and (e) other discounts and fees. Where appropriate, these estimates take into consideration a range of possible outcomes which are probability-weighted for relevant factors such as current contractual and statutory requirements, and forecasted customer buying and payment patterns. Overall, these reserves reflect our best estimates of the amount of consideration to which we are entitled based on the terms of the applicable contract. The amount of variable consideration may be constrained and is included in the net sales price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur in a future period. Given the early stage of our commercial operations we have provided constraint of our variable consideration due to its potential consumption trends. Actual amounts of consideration ultimately received may differ from our estimates. If actual results in the future vary from estimates, we adjust these estimates, which would affect net product revenue and earnings in the period such variances become known.

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Liabilities for co-pay assistance, expected product returns, rebates, and distributor fees are classified as “Other accrued liabilities” in the balance sheets. Discounts, such as prompt pay discounts, and chargebacks are recorded as a reduction to trade accounts receivable, which is included in “Other prepaid and current assets” in the balance sheets.

Forms of Variable Consideration

Rebates and Chargebacks: We estimate reductions to product sales for Public Health Service Institutions, such as Medicaid, Medicare and Veterans' Administration ("VA") programs, as well as certain other qualifying federal and state government programs, and other group purchasing organizations. We estimate these reductions based upon our contracts with government agencies and other organizations, statutorily defined discounts and estimated payor mix. These organizations purchase directly from our wholesalers at a discount and the wholesalers charge us back the difference between the wholesaler price and the discounted price. Our liability for Medicaid rebates consists of estimates for claims that a state will make for a current quarter. We reserve for this discounted pricing based on expected sales to qualified healthcare providers and the chargebacks that customers have already claimed.

Co-pay assistance: Eligible patients who have commercial insurance may receive assistance from us to reduce the patient's out of pocket costs. We will buy down the difference between the amount of the eligible patient's co-pay when the drug is purchased at the pharmacy at a determined price. Liabilities for co-pay assistance are calculated by actual program participation from third-party administrators.

Distribution Fees: We have written contracts with our customers that include terms for distribution fees and costs for inventory management. We estimate and record distribution fees due to our customers based on gross sales.

Product Returns: We generally offer a right of return based on the product’s expiration date and certain spoilage and damaged instances. We estimate the amount of product sales that may be returned and record the estimate as a reduction of product sales in the period the related product sales is recognized. We estimate for expected returns based primarily on an ongoing analysis of sales information and visibility into the inventory remaining in the distribution channel.

Discounts: We provide product discounts, such as prompt pay discounts, to our customers. We estimate cash discounts based on terms in negotiated contracts and our expectations regarding future payment patterns.

Revenue Interest Liability

We have entered into a RIPA to support the commercialization and further development of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet and provide for other working capital needs. The revenue interest liability related to the RIPA is presented net of deferred issuance costs on the balance sheets. The Company imputes interest expense associated with this liability using the effective interest rate method and is presented as interest expense on the statements of operations. The effective interest rate is calculated based on the rate that would enable the debt to be repaid in full over the anticipated life of the arrangement. The interest rate on the liability may vary during the term of the agreement depending on a number of factors, including the level of forecasted net sales. The Company evaluates the interest rate quarterly based on its current net sales forecasts utilizing the prospective method. A significant increase or decrease in net sales will materially impact the revenue interest liability, interest expense and the time period for repayment. Issuance costs in connection with the RIPA are amortized to interest expense over the estimated term of the RIPA.

Convertible Notes

We account for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash or equity upon conversion by separating the liability and equity components of the instruments in a manner that reflects our nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. We determined the carrying amount of the liability component of the Convertible Notes by using estimates and assumptions that market participants would use in pricing a debt instrument. These estimates and assumptions are judgmental in nature and could have a significant impact on the determination of the debt component, and the associated non-cash interest expense.

The equity component is treated as a discount on the liability component of the Convertible Notes, which is amortized over the term of the Convertible Notes using the effective interest rate method. Debt issuance costs related to the Convertible Notes is allocated to the liability and equity components of the Convertible Notes based on their relative values. Debt issuance costs allocated to the liability component are amortized over the life of the Convertible Notes as additional non-cash interest expense. Transaction costs allocated to equity are netted with the equity component of the convertible debt instrument in stockholders’ equity.

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For information on new accounting standards and the impact, if any, on our financial position or results of operations, see Note 2 to our audited financial statements found elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

Year Ended December 31,

(in thousands)

Revenues:

Operating Expenses:

Product sales, net

Product sales, net for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $13.0 million relating to our sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET. NEXLETOL was commercially available in the U.S. on March 30, 2020 and NEXLIZET was commercially available in the U.S. on June 4, 2020.

Collaboration revenue

Collaboration revenue recognized from our collaboration agreements for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $214.6 million compared to $148.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, an increase of $66.2 million. Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily attributable to $150.0 million for the milestone payment from DSE and $60.0 million for the upfront payment in the Otsuka collaboration agreement signed on April 17, 2020. Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 was attributable to the initial recognition of the upfront payment from our collaboration agreement signed with DSE on January 2, 2019 and the ongoing performance obligation from the ongoing regulatory efforts for the MAA in the DSE Territory.

Cost of goods sold

Cost of goods sold for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $2.4 million, primarily related to cost of goods sold from our supply agreements with collaboration partners and our net product sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET. NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET became commercially available in the U.S. on March 30, 2020 and June 4, 2020, respectively. Prior to the FDA approval of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET, expenses associated with the manufacturing of our products were recorded as research and development expense.

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020, were $146.9 million compared to $175.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, a decrease of $28.7 million. The decrease in research and development expenses was primarily attributable to a decline in costs related to the completion of enrollment of our CLEAR CVOT, which was fully

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enrolled during the third quarter of 2019, and a decline in costs related to our regulatory submission activities completed in 2019, partially offset by $12.5 million in 2020 from the definitive agreement with Serometrix to in-license its oral, small molecule PCSK9 inhibitor program.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020, were $199.6 million compared to $65.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, an increase of approximately $133.8 million. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily attributable to salaries and benefits, including stock based compensation, from the build out of our customer-facing team and other costs to support the commercialization of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in the U.S.

Interest expense

Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2020, was $22.7 million, compared to $8.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 was related to our RIPA with Oberland and our Convertible Notes, which we entered into in November 2020. Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 was related to our RIPA with Oberland, which was entered into on June 26, 2019.

Other income, net

Other income, net for the year ended December 31, 2020, was $0.5 million compared to $4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. This decrease was primarily related to lower interest income on our cash, cash equivalents, and investments due to lower interest rates.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

Management’s discussion and analysis of our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018 may be found in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2020.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have funded our operations to date primarily through proceeds from sales of preferred stock, convertible promissory notes and warrants, public offerings of common stock, the incurrence of indebtedness, milestone payments from collaboration agreements and revenue interest purchase agreement. Pursuant to the license and collaboration agreement with DSE signed on January 2, 2019, we received an upfront cash payment of $150.0 million from DSE and a cash payment of $150.0 million upon the MAA transfer in June 2020 and are eligible for substantial additional sales and regulatory milestone payments and royalties. Pursuant to the RIPA with Oberland, we received an upfront cash payment of $124.4 million, net of issuance costs, in 2019, received an additional $25.0 million upon regulatory approval of NEXLETOL in 2020 and are eligible to receive $50.0 million at our option upon reaching certain net product sales thresholds. In return, Oberland will have a right to receive revenue interests based on net sales of our products. Pursuant to the license and collaboration agreement with Otsuka signed on April 17, 2020, we received an upfront cash payment of $60.0 million in April 2020 and are eligible for substantial additional development and sales milestone payments and royalties. In November 2020, we received net proceeds of $170.1 million, net of issuance costs, forward stock re-purchase and capped call transactions in connections with the issuance of our Convertible Notes. We anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future.

As of December 31, 2020, our primary sources of liquidity were our cash and cash equivalents which totaled $305.0 million. We invest our cash equivalents and investments in highly liquid, interest-bearing investment-grade securities and government securities to preserve principal.

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The following table summarizes the primary sources and uses of cash for the periods presented below:

Year Ended December 31,

(in thousands)

Net cash used in operating activities $ (85,177) $ (70,341)

Net cash provided by investing activities 21,356 64,231

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 137,904 $ 130,085

Operating Activities

We have incurred and expect to continue to incur, significant costs related to the commercialization of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and related to ongoing research and development, regulatory and other clinical study costs associated with the development of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets.

Net cash used in operating activities totaled $85.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, consisting of the $150.0 million milestone payment from our collaboration agreement with DSE, $60.0 million from the Otsuka collaboration agreement and net product sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET offset by cash used to fund the commercialization activities of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and the research and development costs related to bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets, adjusted for non-cash expenses such as stock-based compensation expense, amortization of debt issuance costs, interest expense related to our RIPA with Oberland and Convertible Notes, depreciation and amortization and changes in working capital. Net cash used in operating activities totaled $70.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, consisting of the $150.0 million upfront payment from the DSE collaboration offset by cash used to fund the development of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet, adjusted for non-cash expenses such as stock-based compensation expense, interest expense related to our RIPA with Oberland, depreciation and amortization and changes in working capital.

Investing Activities

Net cash provided by investing activities of $21.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 consisted primarily of proceeds from the sale and maturities of highly liquid, interest bearing investment grade and government securities partially offset by $12.5 million for the purchase of in-process research and development to in-license intellectual property for our PCSK9 inhibitor program. Net cash provided by investing activities of $64.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 consisted primarily of proceeds from the sale and maturities of highly liquid, interest bearing investment grade and government securities.

Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities of $201.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, related primarily to the $280.0 million in cash received from the Convertible Notes, $25.0 million in cash received from the RIPA with Oberland upon regulatory approval of NEXLETOL and $6.6 million in cash received from stock option exercises, offset by the prepayment of a forward stock repurchase of $55.0 million, $46.0 million from the purchase of capped call options related to the Convertible Notes and $8.4 million in debt issuance costs as described in Item 8, Note 11, Convertible Notes. Net cash provided by financing activities of $136.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, related primarily to the upfront cash received from the RIPA with Oberland.

Plan of Operations and Funding Requirements

We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future in connection with our ongoing CLEAR Outcomes CVOT and commercial launch activities associated with NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in the U.S. Pursuant to the license and collaboration agreement with DSE, we received an upfront cash payment of $150.0 million from DSE in the first quarter of 2019, $150.0 million in June 2020 upon transfer to DSE of MMA of NUSTENDI and are eligible for substantial additional sales and regulatory milestone payments and royalties. Pursuant to the RIPA with Oberland, we received an upfront cash payment of $125.0 million and received $25.0 million upon regulatory approval of NEXLETOL. We are eligible for an additional $50.0 million at our option upon reaching certain sales thresholds. In return, Oberland will have a right to receive revenue interest payments from us based on net sales of certain of our products. Pursuant to the license and

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collaboration agreement with Otsuka, we received an upfront cash payment of $60.0 million from Otsuka in April 2020 and are eligible for substantial additional development and sales milestone payments and royalties. In November 2020, we received net proceeds of $170.1 million, net of issuance cost, forward stock re-purchase and capped call transactions in connections with our Convertible Notes. We estimate that current cash resources and proceeds to be received in the future for product sales, proceeds received under the DSE and Otsuka collaboration agreements and the RIPA with Oberland are sufficient to fund operations for the foreseeable future. We have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we may use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. We may need to secure additional cash resources to continue to fund the commercialization and further development of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development and ongoing commercialization of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet, and the extent to which we entered and may enter into collaborations with pharmaceutical partners regarding the development and commercialization of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet, we are unable to estimate the amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenses associated with completing the development and commercialization of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:

•our ability to successfully develop and commercialize NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET or other product candidates;

•the costs, timing and outcomes of our CLEAR Outcomes CVOT and other ongoing clinical studies of bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet;

•the time and cost necessary to obtain regulatory approvals for bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet outside the U.S. and Europe;

•our ability to establish any future collaboration or commercialization arrangements on favorable terms, if at all;

•our ability to realize the intended benefits of our existing and future collaboration and partnerships;

•the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property rights and defending intellectual property-related claims; and

•the implementation of operational and financial information technology.

Until such time, if ever, as we can generate U.S. substantial product revenues, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of collaborations with third parties, strategic alliances, licensing arrangements, permitted debt financings, permitted royalty-based financings and equity offerings or other sources. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a common stockholder. Debt financing, if available and permitted under the terms of our RIPA, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with pharmaceutical partners or royalty-based financing arrangements, such as the collaboration arrangement with DSE and Otsuka, and the RIPA with Oberland, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. For instance, as part of the RIPA with Oberland, Oberland has the right to receive certain revenue interests from us based on the net sales of certain products, and we have granted Oberland a senior security interest in certain of our assets. If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to allow us to make required payments, we may have to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets or seek additional capital. If we raise funds by selling additional equity, such sale would result in dilution to our stockholders. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or permitted debt financings or through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements or permitted royalty-based financing arrangements when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

In 2019, we entered into a RIPA with Oberland. Pursuant to the RIPA, Oberland paid us $125.0 million at closing, less certain issuance costs, and, subject to the terms and conditions of the RIPA, we received an additional $25.0 million upon regulatory approval of NEXLETOL in 2020 and our eligible to receive an additional $50.0 million at our option upon reaching certain sales thresholds. As consideration for the payments, Oberland has the right to receive certain revenue interests from us based on the net sales of certain products which will be tiered payments initially ranging from 2.5% to 7.5% of our net sales in

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the covered territory (as detailed in the RIPA). The initial mid-single digit repayment rate on U.S. revenue steps down to less than one percent rate upon certain revenue achievements. Esperion reacquires 100% revenue rights upon repayment completion. We recorded the proceeds from the RIPA as a liability on the balance sheets and are accounting for the RIPA under the effective-interest method over the estimated life of the RIPA. Future payments under the RIPA may range from $5.4 million in the next year to a maximum total payment of $286.6 million beyond one year. Per the terms of the agreement, every $100 million of net sales generated, less than or equal to $250 million in an annual aggregate, would result in a repayment obligation of approximately $7.5 million at the stated repayment rate in the first year. In the future, as net sales thresholds set forth in the agreement are met and the repayment percentage rate changes, the amount of the obligation and timing of payment is likely to change. A significant increase or decrease in net sales will materially impact the revenue interest liability, interest expense and the time period for repayment. Refer to Note 11 to our audited financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.

We have entered into a contract manufacturing agreement with a third-party commercial manufacturing organization for the production of certain inventory supplies of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET. The agreement has an initial term of three years and will renew automatically for successive periods of one year each unless terminated by either party. Under the agreement we are obligated to purchase minimum order commitments on a rolling twelve-month period for the batches of inventory supplies produced.

On July 6, 2018, we signed the first amendment of the lease for our principal executive office in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The amended lease is to increase the current 7,941 rentable square feet of office space by 11,471 rentable square feet. The lease has a term of 60 months and provides for fixed monthly rent of $19,412 until the end of the 12th month, with scheduled increases on an annual basis and/or as provided in the lease agreement, and also provides for certain rent adjustments to be paid as determined by the landlord. In addition, we have also entered into various operating leases related to vehicle leases and other IT equipment.

The following table summarizes our future estimated minimum contractual obligations as of December 31, 2020:

Total Less than1 Year 1 -3 Years 3 -5 Years More than5 Years

(in thousands)

Minimum inventory purchase commitments $ 19,091 $ 19,091 $ — $ — $ —

There have been no material changes to our contractual obligations and commitments outside the ordinary course of business from those disclosed above.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not currently have, nor did we have during the periods presented, any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined by Securities and Exchange Commission rules.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $305.0 million at December 31, 2020. The primary objectives of our investment activities are to preserve principal, provide liquidity and maximize income without significantly increasing risk. Our primary exposure to market risk relates to fluctuations in interest rates which are affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates. Given the short-term nature of our cash equivalents, we believe that a sudden change in market interest rates would not be expected to have a material impact on our financial condition and/or results of operation. We do not have any foreign currency or other derivative financial instruments.

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We maintain significant amounts of cash and cash equivalents at one or more financial institutions that are in excess of federally insured limits. We do not believe that our cash and cash equivalents have significant risk of default or illiquidity.

We contract with CROs and investigational sites globally. We are therefore subject to fluctuations in foreign currency rates in connection with these agreements. We do not hedge our foreign currency exchange rate risk.

Inflation generally affects us by increasing our cost of labor and clinical study costs. We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our results of operations during the year ended December 31, 2020.

We have entered into a revenue interest purchase agreement. Our primary exposure to market risk is that the interest rate on the liability may vary during the term of the agreement depending on a number of factors, including the level of forecasted net sales. A significant increase or decrease in net sales will materially impact the revenue interest liability, interest expense and the time period for repayment. Our Convertible Notes, which were issued in September 2020, carry a fixed interest rate of 4.0% per year. Since the Convertible Notes bear interest at a fixed rate, we have no direct financial statement risk associated with changes in interest rates. We do not believe a change in interest rate has had a material effect on our results of operations during the year ended December 31, 2020.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The financial statements required to be filed pursuant to this Item 8 are appended to this report. An index of those financial statements is found in Item 15.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 is (1) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer, who is our principal executive officer, and our Chief Financial Officer, who is our principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As of December 31, 2020, our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934). Our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded based upon the evaluation described above that, as of December 31, 2020, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for our company. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer and effected by the company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of our company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements prepared for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted

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accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013), issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on its assessment, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2020, based on those criteria.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the quarter ended December 31, 2020, we implemented new procedures and controls around our convertible notes, net product sales and inventory processes.

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the balance sheets of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and our report dated February 23, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Detroit, Michigan

February 23, 2021

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Item 9B. Other Information

None.

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PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information that will be contained in our proxy statement related to the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we intend to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of the end of our fiscal year pursuant to General Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

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PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a)The following documents are filed as part of this report:

(1)Financial Statements:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2

Balance Sheets F-4

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss F-5

Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) F-6

Statements of Cash Flows F-7

Notes to Financial Statements F-8

(2)Financial Statement Schedules:

All financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable, not required or the information required is shown in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

(3)Exhibits. The exhibits filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K are set forth on the Exhibit Index included herein. The Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.

None.

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Exhibit Index

Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit

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Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit

23.1** Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

101.SCH** Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL** Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.LAB** Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE** Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

101.DEF** Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

______________________________________________________

(#) Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

(*) Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(**) Filed herewith.

(***) The certifications furnished in Exhibit 32.1 hereto are deemed to accompany this Annual Report on Form 10-K and will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such certifications will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

ESPERION THERAPEUTICS, INC.

By: /s/ TIM M. MAYLEBEN

Tim M. Mayleben

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated below and on the dates indicated:

Signature Title Date

Tim M. Mayleben (Principal Executive Officer)

Richard B. Bartram and Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ JEFFREY BERKOWITZ, J.D. Director February 23, 2021

Jeffrey Berkowitz, J.D.

/s/ ALAN FUHRMAN Director February 23, 2021

Alan Fuhrman

/s/ ANTONIO M. GOTTO, M.D., D. PHIL Director February 23, 2021

Antonio M. Gotto, M.D., D. Phil

/s/ DANIEL JANNEY Director February 23, 2021

Daniel Janney

/s/ MARK E. MCGOVERN, M.D. Director February 23, 2021

Mark E. McGovern, M.D.

/s/ JAY SHEPARD Director February 23, 2021

Jay Shepard

/s/ NICOLE VITULLO Director February 23, 2021

Nicole Vitullo

/s/ TRACY M. WOODY Director February 23, 2021

Tracy M. Woody

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Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Index to the Financial Statements

Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2

Financial Statements

Balance Sheets F-4

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss F-5

Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) F-6

Statements of Cash Flows F-7

Notes to Financial Statements F-8

F-1

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 23, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Valuation of convertible notes

F-2

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Valuation of revenue interest liability

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2008.

Detroit, Michigan

February 23, 2021

F-3

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Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share data)

Assets

Current assets:

Restricted cash — 928

Short-term investments — 34,651

Prepaid clinical development costs 844 6,081

Intangible assets 56 56

Right of use operating lease assets 6,030 1,532

Liabilities and stockholders' equity

Current liabilities:

Accrued clinical development costs 7,663 17,511

Deferred revenue from collaborations 1,662 2,152

Operating lease liabilities 2,587 454

Convertible notes, net of issuance costs 179,367 —

Other long-term liabilities 1,290 —

Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)

Stockholders’ (deficit) equity:

Accumulated other comprehensive gain — 23

Total stockholders' (deficit) equity (96,134) 19,950

Total liabilities and stockholders' (deficit) equity $ 353,258 $ 214,447

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

F-4

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Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Year Ended December 31,

Revenues:

Product sales, net $ 12,965 $ — $ —

Operating expenses:

Cost of goods sold $ 2,392 $ — $ —

Net loss per common share (basic and diluted) $ (5.23) $ (3.59) $ (7.54)

Other comprehensive (loss) gain:

Unrealized (loss) gain on investments $ (23) $ 342 $ 526

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

F-5

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Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

(in thousands, except share data)

Accumulated

Additional Other Total

Common Stock Paid-In Accumulated Treasury Comprehensive Stockholders'

Shares Amount Capital Deficit Stock Loss Equity (Deficit)

Exercise of warrants 159,944 — — — — — —

Vesting of restricted stock units 3,437 — — — — — —

Other comprehensive gain — — — — — 526 526

Exercise of warrants 5,813 — — — — — —

Vesting of restricted stock units 17,710 — — — — — —

Other comprehensive gain — — — — — 342 342

Vesting of restricted stock units 113,020 — — — — — —

Other comprehensive loss — — — — — (23) (23)

Equity component of convertible notes — — 93,475 — — — 93,475

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

F-6

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Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

Year Ended December 31,

Operating activities

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

Accretion of premiums and discounts on investments (97) (200) (217)

Amortization of discount and issuance costs on convertible notes 1,741 — —

Acquired in-process research and development (Note 3) 12,500 — —

Changes in assets and liabilities:

Other long-term liabilities 1,290 — —

Investing activities

Purchases of in-process research and development (12,500) — —

Purchase of property and equipment (869) (953) (151)

Financing activities

Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes 280,000 — —

Payment for debt issuance costs (8,405) — —

Prepayment of forward stock repurchase transaction (55,000) — —

Purchase of capped call options associated with convertible notes (46,004) — —

Proceeds from revenue interest liability, net of issuance costs 25,000 124,424 —

Payments on revenue interest liability (500) — —

Payments on long-term debt — — (1,049)

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Purchase of property and equipment not yet paid $ — $ 190 $ 199

Non cash right of use asset $ 20 $ 31 $ —

Offering costs not yet paid $ 495 $ — $ —

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

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Table of Contents

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

1. The Company and Basis of Presentation

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. ("the Company”) is the Lipid Management Company, a pharmaceutical company singularly focused on developing and commercializing affordable, oral, once-daily, non-statin medicines for the treatment of patients struggling with elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol ("LDL-C"). The Esperion team of lipid experts are dedicated to lowering bad cholesterol through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines and their combinations with established medicines. The Company's first two products were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), European Medicines Agency ("EMA") and Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products ("Swissmedic") in 2020. Bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets are oral, once-daily, non-statin, LDL-C lowering medicines for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease ("ASCVD") or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia ("HeFH").

On February 21, 2020, the Company announced that the FDA approved NEXLETOL® as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with HeFH or established ASCVD who require additional lowering of LDL-C. The effect of NEXLETOL on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been determined. NEXLETOL is the first oral, once-daily, non-statin LDL-C lowering medicine approved since 2002 for indicated patients. NEXLETOL became commercially available in the U.S. on March 30, 2020.

On February 26, 2020, the Company announced that the FDA approved NEXLIZET® as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with HeFH or established ASCVD who require additional lowering of LDL-C. The effect of NEXLIZET on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been determined. NEXLIZET is the first non-statin, LDL-C lowering fixed combination drug product ever approved. NEXLIZET became commercially available in the U.S. on June 4, 2020.

On April 6, 2020, the Company announced that the European Commission (“EC”) approved the NILEMDOTM (bempedoic acid) and NUSTENDITM (bempedoic acid and ezetimibe) tablets for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia. The decision is applicable to all 27 European Union member states plus the United Kingdom (until December 31, 2020), Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. NILEMDO (bempedoic acid) and NUSTENDI (bempedoic acid and ezetimibe) are the branded products names for bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablets in Europe. NILEMDO is the first, oral, non-statin, LDL-C lowering medicine approved in Europe in almost two decades for indicated patients, and NUSTENDI is the first non-statin, LDL-C lowering combination medicine ever approved in Europe. In November 2020, the Company announced the commercial launch of NILEMDO and NUSTENDI in Germany. In December 2020, the Company announced the approval of NILEMDO and NUSTENDI in Switzerland. With respect to the United Kingdom, on January 1, 2021 all existing centralized marketing authorizations (which applied to our marketing authorizations for NILEMDO and NUSTENDI) were automatically converted to Great Britain marketing authorizations (under the Northern Ireland Protocol, centralized marketing authorizations remain valid for marketing products in Northern Ireland).

On April 17, 2020, the Company entered into a license and collaboration agreement (the "Otsuka Agreement") with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Otsuka"). Pursuant to the Otsuka Agreement, the Company granted Otsuka exclusive development and commercialization rights to NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in Japan. Otsuka will be responsible for all development, regulatory, and commercialization activities in Japan (the "Otsuka Territory"). In addition, Otsuka will fund all clinical development costs associated with the program in Japan. The Company received an upfront cash payment of $60 million in April 2020 and will receive up to an additional $450 million in total development and sales milestones. The Company will also receive tiered royalties ranging from 15 percent to 30 percent on net sales in Japan.

In 2019 the Company entered into a license and collaboration agreement ("LCA Agreement") with Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH ("DSE"). Pursuant to the agreement, the Company granted DSE exclusive commercialization rights to bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet in the European Economic Area and Switzerland (the "DSE Territory"). DSE will be responsible for commercialization in the DSE Territory. The Company remains responsible for clinical development, regulatory and manufacturing activities for the licensed products globally, including in the DSE Territory. On June 18, 2020, the Company entered into an amendment to the license and collaboration agreement ("LCA Amendment") with DSE dated as of January 2, 2019. In June 2020, the Company completed the transfer of the Marketing Authorisation Applications ("MAAs") for NILEMDO and NUSTENDI. Pursuant to the terms of the amendment, DSE paid the Company the

F-8

Table of Contents

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

1. The Company and Basis of Presentation (Continued)

second $150 million milestone based on completion of the NUSTENDI MAA transfer rather than the first product sale in the EU. Prior to the execution of the LCA Amendment, the milestone payment was due upon the first commercial sale in Europe. Additionally, the Company and DSE have agreed to expand the territory in which DSE has exclusive commercialization rights to NILEMDO and NUSTENDI to include Turkey. DSE's designated affiliate in Turkey will be solely responsible, at its sole cost and expense, for all regulatory matters relating to such products in Turkey, including obtaining Regulatory Approval for such product in Turkey.

The Company's primary activities since incorporation have been conducting research and development activities, including nonclinical, preclinical and clinical testing, performing business and financial planning, recruiting personnel, and raising capital. The Company received approval by the FDA in February 2020 to commercialize NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in the U.S., and accordingly commenced principal operations on March 30, 2020 with the commercialization of NEXLETOL. The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties which include the need to successfully commercialize its products, research, develop, and clinically test therapeutic products; obtain regulatory approvals for its products; expand its management, commercial and scientific staff; and finance its operations with an ultimate goal of achieving profitable operations.

The Company has sustained annual operating losses since inception and expects such losses to continue over the foreseeable future. While management believes current cash resources and future cash received from the Company's net product sales, collaboration agreements with DSE and Otsuka, entered into on January 2, 2019 and April 17, 2020, respectively, and from the Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement (“RIPA”) with Eiger III SA LLC (“Oberland”), an affiliate of Oberland Capital LLC, and the Purchasers named therein, entered into on June 26, 2019, will fund operations for the foreseeable future, management may continue to fund operations and advance the development of the Company's products and product candidates through a combination of collaborations with third parties, strategic alliances, licensing arrangements, permitted debt financings, permitted royalty-based financings, and permitted private and public equity offerings or through other sources. The impact of COVID-19 and the uncertainty around the global pandemic could further impact the commercial launch of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and the Company’s research and development programs and could result in lower cash flows or higher costs that could further impact the Company’s overall operations and cash needs in the future.

If adequate funds are not available, the Company may not be able to continue the development of its current products or future product candidates, or to commercialize its current or future product candidates, if approved.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, net revenues, expenses and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company invests its excess cash in bank deposits, money market accounts, and short-term investments. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are reported at fair value.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of legally restricted amounts held by financial institutions pursuant to contractual arrangements.

F-9

Table of Contents

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Investments

Investments are considered to be available-for-sale and are carried at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses, if any, are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. The cost of investments classified as available-for-sale are adjusted for the amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity and recorded in other income, net. Realized gains and losses, if any, are determined using the specific identification method and recorded in other income, net. Investments with original maturities beyond 90 days at the date of purchase and which mature at, or less than twelve months from, the balance sheet date are classified as current. Investments with a maturity beyond twelve months from the balance sheet date are classified as long-term.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses primarily consist of salaries and benefits, stock-based compensation, and costs of programs necessary for the general conduct of the Company's business, including costs associated with the commercialization of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in the U.S. Selling, general and administrative expenses are expensed as costs are incurred, services are performed, or goods are delivered. The Company incurred advertising costs of $19.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities consist of financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk. The Company has established guidelines for investment of its excess cash and believes the guidelines maintain safety and liquidity through diversification of counterparties and maturities. The Company enters into a limited number of distribution agreements with distributors and specialty pharmacies. The Company's net product sales are with these customers. As of December 31, 2020, eight customers accounted for all of the Company's net trade receivables.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value and recognized on a first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method. The Company uses standard cost to determine the cost basis for inventory. Inventory is capitalized based on when future economic benefit is expected to be realized. The Company began capitalizing inventory upon receiving FDA approval for NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET on February 21, 2020 and February 26, 2020, respectively. Prior to the FDA approval of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET, expenses associated with the manufacturing of the Company's products were recorded as research and development expense.

The Company analyzes its inventory levels on a periodic basis to determine if any inventory is at risk for expiration prior to sale or has a cost basis that is greater than its estimated future net realizable value. Any adjustments are recognized through cost of goods sold in the period in which they are incurred.

Segment Information

The Company views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment, which is the business of researching, developing and commercializing therapies for the treatment of patients with elevated LDL-C.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments are carried at fair value. Financial instruments, including other prepaid and current assets, accounts payable and accrued liabilities are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. Debt is carried at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

F-10

Table of Contents

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, generally three to ten years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the lease term or the estimated useful lives of the related assets.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets, including property and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition are less than its carrying amount. The impairment loss, if recognized, would be based on the excess of the carrying value of the impaired asset over its respective fair value. No impairment losses have been recorded through December 31, 2020.

Leases

The Company reviews all arrangements to determine if the contract contains a lease or an embedded lease using the criteria in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 842 Leases ("ASC 842"). If a lease is identified, the Company reviews the consideration in the contract and separates the lease components from the nonlease components. In addition, the Company reviews the classification of the lease between operating and finance leases. According to ASC 842, lessees should discount lease payments at the lease commencement date using the rate implicit in the lease. If the rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable, a lessee must use its incremental borrowing rate for purposes of classifying the lease and measuring the right-of-use asset and liability. To the extent the rate is not implicit in the lease, the Company uses the incremental borrowing rate it would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term in an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment.

Convertible Notes

The Company accounts for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash or equity upon conversion by separating the liability and equity components of the instruments in a manner that reflects the nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. The Company determined the carrying amount of the liability component of the Convertible Notes by using estimates and assumptions that market participants would use in pricing a debt instrument. These estimates and assumptions are judgmental in nature and could have a significant impact on the determination of the debt component, and the associated non-cash interest expense.

The equity component is treated as a discount on the liability component of the Convertible Notes, which is amortized over the term of the Convertible Notes using the effective interest rate method. Debt issuance costs related to the Convertible Notes are allocated to the liability and equity components of the Convertible Notes based on their relative values. Debt issuance costs allocated to the liability component are amortized over the life of the Convertible Notes as additional non-cash interest expense. Transaction costs allocated to equity are netted with the equity component of the convertible debt instrument in stockholders’ equity (deficit).

Revenue Interest Liability

The revenue interest liability is presented net of deferred issuance costs on the balance sheets. The Company imputes interest expense associated with this liability using the effective interest rate method. The effective interest rate is calculated based on the rate that would enable the debt to be repaid in full over the anticipated life of the arrangement. The interest rate on the liability may vary during the term of the agreement depending on a number of factors, including the level of forecasted net sales. The Company evaluates the interest rate quarterly based on its current net sales forecasts utilizing the prospective method.

Revenue Recognition

In accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606"), the Company recognizes revenue when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company

F-11

Table of Contents

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

expects to receive in exchange for the goods or services provided. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements within the scope of ASC 606, the Company performs the following five steps: identify the contracts with a customer; identify the performance obligations in the contract; determine the transaction price; allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and recognize revenue when or as the entity satisfies a performance obligation. At contract inception the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when or as the performance obligation is satisfied. The Company derives revenue through two primary sources: collaboration revenue and product sales. Collaboration revenue consists of the collaboration payments to the Company for collaboration arrangements outside of the United States for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of the Company's product candidates by the Company's partners and product sales consists of sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in the United States.

a.Collaboration Revenue

The Company has entered into agreements related to its activities to develop, manufacture, and commercialize its product candidates. The Company earns collaboration revenue in connection with a collaboration agreement to develop and/or commercialize product candidates where the Company deems the collaborator to be the customer. In accordance with ASC 606, revenue is measured as the amount of consideration expected to be entitled to in exchange for transferring promised goods or providing services to a customer. Revenue is recognized when (or as) the Company satisfies performance obligations under the terms of a contract. Depending on the terms of the arrangement, the Company may defer the recognition of all or a portion of the consideration received as the performance obligations are satisfied.

The collaboration agreements may require the Company to deliver various rights, services, and/or goods across the entire life cycle of a product or product candidate. In an agreement involving multiple goods or services promised to be transferred to a customer, the Company must assess, at the inception of the contract, whether each promise represents a separate performance obligation (i.e., is "distinct"), or whether such promises should be combined as a single performance obligation.

The terms of the agreements typically include consideration to be provided to the Company in the form of non-refundable up-front payments, development milestones, sales milestones, and royalties on sales of products within a respective territory. The Company recognizes regulatory and approval milestones consideration when it is probable that a future reversal is unlikely to occur. For sales based milestones and royalties based on sales of product in a territory, the Company applies the sales-based royalty exception in ASC 606 to all of these milestones and royalties.

At the inception of a contract, the transaction price reflects the amount of consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for transferring promised goods or services to its customer. In the arrangement where the Company satisfies performance obligation(s) during the regulatory phase over time, the Company recognizes collaboration revenue typically using an input method on the basis of regulatory costs incurred relative to the total expected cost which determines the extent of progress toward completion. The Company reviews the estimate of the transaction price and the total expected cost each period, and makes revisions to such estimates as necessary. Under contracted supply agreements with collaborators, the Company may manufacture and supply quantities of active pharmaceutical ingredient (“API”) or bulk tablets reasonably required by collaboration partners for the development or sale of licensed products in their respective territory. The Company recognizes revenue when the collaboration partner has obtained control of the API or bulk tablets. The Company records the costs related to the supply agreement in cost of goods sold on the statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Under the Company's collaboration agreements, product sales and cost of sales may be recorded by the Company's collaborators as they are deemed to be the principal in the transaction. The Company receives royalties from the commercialization of such products, and records its share of the variable consideration, representing a percentage of net product sales, as collaboration revenue in the period in which such underlying sales occur and costs are incurred by the collaborators. The collaborators will provide the Company with estimates of its royalties for such quarter; these estimates are reconciled to actual results in the subsequent quarter, and the royalty is adjusted accordingly, as necessary.

Please refer to the discussion in Note 3 "Collaborations with Third Parties" for further discussion of the accounting related to the collaboration agreements.

F-12

Table of Contents

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

b.Product Sales, Net

On March 30, 2020, NEXLETOL was commercially available in the U.S. through prescription and on June 4, 2020, NEXLIZET was commercially available in the U.S. through prescription. Net product sales totaled $13.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.

The Company sells NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET to wholesalers in the U.S and recognizes revenue at the point in time when the customer is deemed to have obtained control of the product. The customer is deemed to have obtained control of the product at the time of physical receipt of the product at the customers’ distribution facilities, or free on board (“FOB”) destination, the terms of which are designated in the contract.

Product sales are recorded at the net selling price, which includes estimates of variable consideration for which reserves are established for (a) rebates and chargebacks, (b) co-pay assistance programs, (c) distribution fees, (d) product returns, and (e) other discounts and fees. Where appropriate, these estimates take into consideration a range of possible outcomes which are probability-weighted for relevant factors such as current contractual and statutory requirements, and forecasted customer buying and payment patterns. Overall, these reserves reflect the Company's best estimates of the amount of consideration to which it is entitled based on the terms of the applicable contract. The amount of variable consideration may be constrained and is included in the net sales price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur in a future period. Given the early stage of the Company’s commercial operations it has provided constraint of its variable consideration due to its potential consumption trends. Actual amounts of consideration ultimately received may differ from the Company's estimates. If actual results in the future vary from estimates, the Company adjusts these estimates, which would affect net product revenue and earnings in the period such variances become known.

Forms of Variable Consideration

Rebates and Chargebacks: The Company estimates reductions to product sales for Public Health Service Institutions, such as Medicaid, Medicare and Veterans' Administration ("VA") programs, as well as certain other qualifying federal and state government programs, and other group purchasing organizations. The Company estimates these reductions based upon the Company's contracts with government agencies and other organizations, statutorily defined discounts and estimated payor mix. These organizations purchase directly from the Company's wholesalers at a discount and the wholesalers charge the Company back the difference between the wholesaler price and the discounted price. The Company's liability for Medicare and Medicaid rebates consists of estimates for claims that a state will make for a current quarter. The Company's reserve for this discounted pricing is based on expected sales to qualified healthcare providers and the chargebacks that customers have already claimed.

Co-pay assistance: Eligible patients who have commercial insurance may receive assistance from the Company to reduce the patient's out of pocket costs. The Company will buy down the difference between the amount of the eligible patient's co-pay when the drug is purchased at the pharmacy at a determined price. Liabilities for co-pay assistance are calculated by actual program participation from third-party administrators.

Distribution Fees: The Company has written contracts with its customers that include terms for distribution fees and costs for inventory management. The Company estimates and records distribution fees due to its customers based on gross sales.

Product Returns: The Company generally offers a right of return based on the product’s expiration date and certain spoilage and damaged instances. The Company estimates the amount of product sales that may be returned and records the estimate as a reduction of product sales in the period the related product sales is recognized. The Company’s estimates for expected returns are based primarily on an ongoing analysis of sales information and visibility into the inventory remaining in the distribution channel.

F-13

Table of Contents

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Discounts: The Company provides product discounts, such as prompt pay discounts, to its customers. The Company estimates cash discounts based on terms in negotiated contracts and the Company’s expectations regarding future payment patterns.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold is related to the Company's net product sales of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET and the cost of the API supplied to collaboration partners from supply agreements. Cost of goods sold includes the actual product costs, including inbound freight charges and certain outbound freight charges, purchasing, sourcing, inspection and receiving costs.

Research and Development

Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred to further the Company’s research and development activities and include salaries and related benefits, costs associated with clinical activities, nonclinical activities, regulatory activities, manufacturing activities to support clinical activities and commercial product manufacturing supply prior to the Company's regulatory approval, research-related overhead expenses, in-licensing agreements and fees paid to external service providers that conduct certain research and development, clinical, and manufacturing activities on behalf of the Company. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

In accordance with ASC 730, Research and Development, costs incurred in obtaining in-licenses are charged to research and development expense if the in-licensed technology has not reached commercial feasibility and has no alternative future use. Such licenses purchased by the Company require substantial completion of research and development, regulatory and marketing approval efforts in order to reach commercial feasibility and has no alternative future use.

Accrued Clinical Development Costs

Outside research costs are a component of research and development expense. These expenses include fees paid to clinical research organizations and other service providers that conduct certain clinical and product development activities on behalf of the Company. Depending upon the timing of payments to the service providers, the Company recognizes prepaid expenses or accrued expenses related to these costs. These accrued or prepaid expenses are based on management’s estimates of the work performed under service agreements, milestones achieved and experience with similar contracts. The Company monitors each of these factors and adjusts estimates accordingly.

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company has incurred annual operating losses since inception. Accordingly, it is not more likely than not that the Company will realize a tax benefit from its deferred tax assets and as such, it has recorded a full valuation allowance.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation. Accordingly, compensation costs related to equity instruments granted are recognized over the requisite service periods of the awards on a straight-line basis at the grant-date fair value calculated using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. Expense is recognized during the period the related services are rendered.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), which requires financial instruments to be recognized at an estimate of current expected credit losses. As part of the ASU, financial assets measured at amortized cost will be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. In addition, companies will recognize an allowance for credit losses on available-for-sale investments rather than reducing the amortized

F-14

Table of Contents

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

cost in an other-than-temporary impairment. The standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those years. The Company has chosen the practical expedient to exclude accrued interest from both the fair value and the amortized cost basis of available-for-sale debt securities in identifying and measuring an impairment. The Company adopted the standard effective January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s balance sheets, statements of operations or statements of cash flows.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract, which includes provisions to clarify customer’s accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement. Under the updated guidance, a customer in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract should follow the internal-use software guidance to determine how to account for costs incurred in implementation. The updated guidance also requires certain classification on the balance sheets, statements of operations and statements of cash flows as well as additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures. The standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those years. Entities can choose to adopt the new guidance prospectively or retrospectively. The Company adopted the standard effective January 1, 2020, and has chosen to adopt the standard prospectively. Implementation costs for cloud computing arrangements are capitalized in "Other prepaid and current assets" on the Company's balance sheets. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact to the Company’s balance sheets, statements of operations or statements of cash flows.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. The amendments in this update simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The amendments within ASU 2019-12 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, and early adoption is permitted. The Company early adopted this standard for the year ended December 31, 2020, which amended the existing standards for income tax accounting, eliminating the legacy exception on how to allocate income tax expense or benefit for the year to continuing operations, discontinued operations, other comprehensive income, and other charges or credits recorded directly to shareholder’s equity. We did not adjust comparative periods in our financial statements prior to that period. Adoption of the new standard on January 1, 2020 resulted in determining the tax effect of income or loss from continuing operations using a computation that does not consider the tax effects of items that are not included in continuing operations. As such, the Company did not record a tax expense or benefit related to amounts credited directly to shareholder equity. Refer to Note 16 for additional information.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) (“ASU 2020-06”). This ASU simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments by removing the separation models for convertible debt with cash conversion features and convertible instruments with a beneficial conversion feature, which requires the fair value of the embedded conversion feature of convertible instruments be allocated to equity. Under ASU 2020-06, a convertible debt instrument with those features will generally be reported as a single liability at its amortized cost with no separate accounting for the embedded conversion features in equity. The adoption of this ASU will result in the reclassification of the portion of the Company's convertible notes from equity to debt, which will also reduce reported interest expense and increase reported net income. ASU 2020-06 requires the application of the if-converted method when calculating diluted earnings per share, eliminating the Company’s ability to use the treasury stock method when certain conditions are met. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company plans to early adopt this standard as of January 1, 2021 which will result in a net increase in the Convertible notes of approximately $92.0 million, an adjustment to accumulated deficit of approximately $1.5 million, and a reduction to additional paid-in capital of $93.5 million. The Company does not expect any tax impact of the adoption to be material.

3. Collaborations with Third Parties

DSE Agreement Terms

On January 2, 2019, the Company entered into a license and collaboration agreement with DSE. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company granted DSE exclusive commercialization rights to bempedoic acid and the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination tablet in the European Economic Area and Switzerland (“DSE Territory”). DSE will be responsible for

F-15

Table of Contents

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

3. Collaborations with Third Parties (Continued)

commercialization in the DSE Territory. The Company remains responsible for clinical development, regulatory and manufacturing activities for the licensed products globally, including in the DSE Territory.

Pursuant to the agreement, the consideration consists of a $150.0 million upfront cash payment as well as $150.0 million cash payment to the Company upon first commercial sales in the DSE Territory. The Company also is responsible for supplying DSE with certain manufacturing supply of the API or bulk tablets. The Company is also eligible to receive a substantial additional regulatory milestone payment upon the grant of the marketing authorisation in the European Union for the CV risk reduction label, depending on the range of relative risk reduction in the CLEAR Outcomes study. In addition, the Company is eligible to receive additional sales milestone payments related to total net sales achievements for DSE in the DSE Territory. Finally, the Company will receive tiered fifteen percent (15%) to twenty-five percent (25%) royalties on net DSE Territory sales.

The agreement calls for both parties to participate in a Joint Collaboration Committee (the “DSE JCC”). The DSE JCC is comprised of executive management from each company and the Company will lead in all aspects related to development and DSE will lead in all aspects related to commercialization in the DSE Territory.

Agreement Terms Amendment

On June 18, 2020, the Company entered into an amendment to the license and collaboration agreement with DSE, dated as of January 2, 2019. In June, the Company completed the transfer of the MAAs for NILEMDO and NUSTENDI. Pursuant to the terms of the amendment, DSE paid the Company the second $150.0 million milestone based on completion of the NUSTENDI MAA transfer rather than the first product sale in the EU, as previously agreed. Additionally, the Company and DSE have agreed to expand the DSE Territory, or the territory in which DSE has exclusive commercialization rights to NILEMDO and NUSTENDI to include Turkey. DSE's designated affiliate in Turkey will be solely responsible, at its sole cost and expense, for all regulatory matters relating to such products in Turkey, including obtaining regulatory approval for such products in Turkey.

Collaboration Revenue

The Company considered the guidance under ASC 606 and concluded that the agreement was in the scope of ASC 606. The Company concluded that the upfront payment of $150.0 million should be included in the transaction price and related to the following performance obligations under the agreement: 1) the license to the Company’s intellectual property and 2) the obligation to provide ongoing regulatory and development activities. The Company used the adjusted market assessment approach in determining the standalone selling price of the Company’s intellectual property and the expected cost plus margin approach in determining the standalone selling price of the Company’s obligation to provide ongoing regulatory and development activities. Accordingly, during the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recognized $148.4 million of collaboration revenue related to the $150.0 million upfront payment, respectively. The $148.4 million related to the performance obligations for the license to the Company’s intellectual property and a portion of ongoing regulatory and development activities conducted during the period ended December 31, 2019, in the amounts of $144.4 million and $4.0 million, respectively. The remaining $1.6 million of the upfront payment was deferred as of December 31, 2019 due to an on-going performance obligation related to the ongoing regulatory efforts related to the MAA in the DSE Territory. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized $1.6 million related to the on-going performance obligation for the ongoing regulatory efforts related to the MAA in the DSE Territory, which was transferred to DSE in June 2020.

In addition, in the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized the $150.0 million milestone as collaboration revenue based on the successful transfer of the NUSTENDI MAA. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized collaboration revenue of $2.8 million related to royalty revenue and the sales of bulk tablets of NILEMDO and NUSTENDI to DSE pursuant to the Supply Agreement that was executed with DSE.

All remaining future potential milestone amounts were not included in the transaction price, as they were all determined to be fully constrained following the concepts of ASC 606 due to the fact that such amounts hinge on development activities, regulatory approvals and sales-based milestones. Additionally, the Company expects that any consideration related to sales-based milestones will be recognized when the subsequent sales-based milestones are achieved.

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Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

3. Collaborations with Third Parties (Continued)

Otsuka Agreement Terms

On April 17, 2020, the Company entered into the Otsuka Agreement. Pursuant to the Otsuka Agreement, the Company granted Otsuka exclusive development and commercialization rights to NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET in Japan. Otsuka will be responsible for all development, regulatory, and commercialization activities in Japan. In addition, Otsuka will fund all clinical development costs associated with the program in Japan.

Pursuant to the agreement, the consideration consists of a $60.0 million upfront cash payment and the Company will be eligible to receive additional payments of up to $450.0 million if certain regulatory and commercial milestones are achieved by Otsuka. The potential future milestone payments include up to $20.0 million upon first JNDA submissions in the Otsuka Territory, up to $70.0 million upon the first NHI Price Listing for NEXLETOL in the Otsuka Territory, and up to $50.0 million upon the achievement of the primary major adverse cardiovascular events (“MACE”) in the CLEAR Outcomes study and the CV risk reduction rate on the U.S. label, depending on the range of relative risk reduction in the CLEAR Outcomes study. In addition, the Company is eligible to receive additional sales milestone payments up to $310.0 million related to total net sales achievements for Otsuka in Japan. Finally, the Company will receive tiered fifteen percent (15%) to thirty percent (30%) royalties on net sales in Japan.

The agreement calls for both parties to participate in a Joint Collaboration Committee (the "Otsuka JCC"). The Otsuka JCC is comprised of executive management from each company and Otsuka will lead in all aspects related to development and commercialization in the Otsuka Territory.

Collaboration Revenue

The Company considered the guidance under ASC 606 and concluded that the agreement was in the scope of ASC 606. The Company concluded that the upfront payment of $60.0 million should be included in the transaction price and related to the performance obligation under the agreement to the license to the Company's intellectual property. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized $60.0 million of collaboration revenue related to the $60.0 million upfront payment.

All future potential milestone amounts were not included in the transaction price, as they were all determined to be fully constrained following the concepts of ASC 606 due to the fact that such amounts hinge on development activities, regulatory approvals and sales-based milestones. Additionally, the Company expects that any consideration related to royalties and sales-based milestones will be recognized when the subsequent sales occur.

The Company has not yet recognized any revenue for milestone payments as the related regulatory and commercial milestones have not yet been achieved.

Other Agreements

During December 2020, the Company entered into a licensing agreement with Serometrix to in-license a series of early stage compounds known as scaffolds related to its oral, small molecule PCSK9 inhibitor program. PCSK9 is an enzyme responsible for regulating LDL receptors. PCSK9 inhibitors stop LDL receptors from being broken down, increasing the number of LDL receptors present to remove cholesterol from the blood. The agreement allows the Company use of the PCSK9 compounds, which were patented by Serometrix prior to the licensing agreement, to perform further research and development with the goal of developing a small molecule oral PCSK9 inhibitor that can be taken as a tablet.

In exchange for these rights, the Company agreed to pay Serometrix an upfront payment, milestone payments and royalties on net sales of licensed products under the agreement. The Company is obligated to make milestone payments to Serometrix upon the achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercialization milestones. The development milestone payments due under the agreement depend on the licensed product being developed. As part of the agreement, the Company made an upfront cash payment of $12.5 million in December 2020, which was recorded to research and development expense, to Serometrix, with payments in future years tied to specific milestones. The Company has also agreed to pay tiered royalties based on net sales of all products licensed under the agreement of mid-single-digit to low double-digit percentages.

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Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

4. Inventories

Inventories consist of the following:

December 31,

(in thousands)

Work in process 2,028 —

Finished goods 320 —

5. Warrants

In June 2014, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement (the "Credit Facility") with Oxford Finance LLC which provided for borrowings of $5.0 million under the term loan (the "Term A Loan"). On June 30, 2014, the Company received proceeds of $5.0 million from the issuance of secured promissory notes under the Term A Loan, which were collateralized by substantially all of the Company's personal property, other than its intellectual property. The Term A Loan was fully repaid in July 2018. In connection with the Credit Facility entered into in June 2014, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 8,230 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $15.19. The warrant was recorded at fair value of $0.1 million to additional-paid-in-capital.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, 8,230 warrants were net exercised for 5,813 shares of the Company's common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2018, 177,123 warrants were net exercised for 159,944 shares of the Company's common stock.

As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had no warrants outstanding.

6. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company has entered into a contract manufacturing agreement with a third party commercial manufacturing organization for the production of certain inventory supplies of NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET. The agreement has an initial term of three years and will renew automatically for successive periods of one year each unless terminated by either party. Under the agreement, the Company is obligated to purchase minimum order commitments on a rolling twelve-month period for the batches of inventory supplies produced. The Company estimates future minimum inventory purchase commitments of $19.1 million for 2021.

Legal Proceedings

On January 12, 2016, a purported stockholder of the Company filed a putative class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, against the Company and Tim Mayleben, captioned Kevin L. Dougherty v. Esperion Therapeutics, Inc., et al. (No. 16-cv-10089). The lawsuit alleges that the Company and Mr. Mayleben violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and SEC Rule 10b-5 by allegedly failing to disclose in an August 17, 2015, public statement that the FDA would require a cardiovascular outcomes trial before approving the Company’s lead product candidate. The lawsuit seeks, among other things, compensatory damages in connection with an allegedly inflated stock price between August 18, 2015, and September 28, 2015, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. On May 20, 2016, an amended complaint was filed in the lawsuit and on July 5, 2016, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On December 27, 2016, the court granted the Company’s motion to dismiss with prejudice and entered judgment in the Company’s favor. On January 24, 2017, the plaintiffs in this lawsuit filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment. In May 2017, the court denied the plaintiff’s motion to alter or amend the judgment. In May 2017, the court denied the plaintiff’s motion to alter or amend the judgment. On June 19, 2017, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and on September 14, 2017, they filed their opening brief in support of the appeal. The appeal was fully briefed on December 7, 2017, and it was argued before the Sixth Circuit on March 15, 2018. On September 27, 2018, the Sixth Circuit issued an opinion in which it reversed the district court’s dismissal and remanded for further proceedings. On October 11, 2018, the Company filed a petition for rehearing en banc and, on October 23, 2018, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals directed

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Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

6. Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)

plaintiffs to respond to that petition. On December 3, 2018, the Sixth Circuit denied the Company’s petition for en banc rehearing, and on December 11, 2018, the case was returned to the federal district court by mandate from the Sixth Circuit. On December 26, 2018, the Company filed an answer to the amended complaint, and on March 28, 2019, the Company filed its amended answer to the amended complaint. On September 15, 2020, the Company filed a motion for summary judgment, and the plaintiffs filed a motion for partial summary judgment, and on October 23, 2020, the parties filed oppositions to both motions for summary judgment. On November 20, 2020, the Company and plaintiffs filed replies in support of their respective motions. The Company is unable to predict the outcome of this matter and is unable to make a meaningful estimate of the amount or range of loss, if any, that could result from an unfavorable outcome.

On December 15, 2016, a purported stockholder of the Company filed a derivative lawsuit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware against Tim Mayleben, Roger Newton, Mary McGowan, Nicole Vitullo, Dov Goldstein, Daniel Janney, Antonio Gotto Jr., Mark McGovern, Gilbert Omenn, Scott Braunstein, and Patrick Enright. The Company is named as a nominal defendant. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties to the Company when they made or approved improper statements on August 17, 2015, regarding the Company’s lead product candidate’s path to FDA approval, and failed to ensure that reliable systems of internal controls were in place at the Company. On February 8, 2019, the Company and defendants filed a motion to dismiss the derivative lawsuit. On April 23, 2019, the plaintiff filed an opposition to the motion to dismiss the derivative lawsuit, and the Company filed a reply brief on May 15, 2019. On November 6, 2019, the court held a hearing on the motion to dismiss. On February 13, 2020, the court granted the motion to dismiss with prejudice and entered judgment in the Company’s favor. On March 16, 2020, the plaintiff filed a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court of Delaware. On June 1, 2020, the plaintiff filed his opening brief on appeal to the Supreme Court of Delaware. On July 1, 2020, the Company and the defendants filed an answering brief, and on July 16, 2020, the plaintiff filed a reply brief. On October 14, 2020, the Supreme Court of Delaware held oral arguments on the appeal. On October 29, 2020, the Supreme Court of Delaware issued an order affirming the judgment of the Court of Chancery.

7. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consist of the following:

December 31,

(in thousands)

Furniture, fixtures and other 1,170 908

Assets in Progress — 99

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 1,571 1,031

Property and equipment, net $ 1,276 $ 1,145

Depreciation expense was $0.5 million, $0.3 million, and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

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Table of Contents

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

ESPR US Equity

ESPR · 10-K · period ended 2020-12-31

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Item 9B. Other Information

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.

ESPR US Equity☆

ESPR · 10-K · period ended 2020-12-31

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Item 9B. Other Information

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.

ESPR US Equity