HLS Therapeutics Announces NILEMDOTM (bempedoic acid) is now available in Canada for the Reduction of LDL-Cholesterol in Patients at Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
MWN-AI** Summary
HLS Therapeutics Inc. announced the launch of NILEMDO™ (bempedoic acid) in Canada, a first-in-class oral treatment aimed at reducing LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease. This medication becomes available nationally by prescription, addressing an urgent need for over half a million Canadians who are either unable to reach LDL-C goals with standard statin therapies or are statin intolerant.
Health Canada approved NILEMDO in November 2025, based on data from the pivotal CLEAR Outcomes trial, which involved nearly 14,000 high-risk patients unable to tolerate statins. This landmark study showed that bempedoic acid significantly lowered the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), which include cardiovascular deaths, non-fatal heart attacks, strokes, and necessary coronary procedures.
Dr. Lawrence Leiter, a leading expert in medicine and nutritional sciences, highlighted the importance of this new oral treatment option, noting that it provides a well-tolerated means to lower LDL-C. In clinical practice, NILEMDO can be utilized alone or in conjunction with other therapies, including statins and PCSK9 inhibitors, serving as a crucial step-up treatment for patients who don’t achieve targets with current options.
Craig Millian, CEO of HLS Therapeutics, stated that NILEMDO enriches HLS's cardiovascular portfolio and aims to help more Canadians achieve their LDL-C targets, ultimately reducing their cardiovascular risk. The company is also looking forward to the potential launch of NEXLIZET, a combination of bempedoic acid and ezetimibe, aimed for 2027, further enhancing their offerings in the cardiovascular disease market.
NILEMDO is currently under review for private and public reimbursement, with expectations for coverage in the near future. This launch positions HLS Therapeutics as a key player in the Canadian pharmaceutical landscape, addressing significant unmet needs in cardiovascular health.
MWN-AI** Analysis
HLS Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: HLS) has made a significant move by launching NILEMDO™ (bempedoic acid) in Canada, targeting the unmet medical need for over half a million Canadians unable to reach their LDL-C goals with existing therapies or who are statin intolerant. This first-in-class, once-daily oral medication, which has shown substantial cardiovascular benefits in the CLEAR Outcomes trial, positions HLS favorably in the cardiovascular market.
Investors should interpret this launch as a strategic growth opportunity for HLS. The potential to capture a large patient population, combined with the robust clinical data supporting NILEMDO, positions the company as a leader in innovative lipid-lowering treatments. Moreover, the projected private payer coverage in Q2 2026 and potential public reimbursement anticipated by late 2026 could enhance product accessibility, driving revenue growth.
The pharmaceutical landscape indicates positive trends for innovative therapies that address significant health issues. As cardiovascular disease remains a critical health concern in Canada, regulatory approval and market exclusivity (extending to 2040) provide HLS a competitive edge. The recent partnerships with Esperion further strengthen HLS's cardiovascular portfolio and lending credibility to its product lineup.
However, investors should remain cautious. The specialty pharmaceutical industry can be unpredictable due to factors such as regulatory hurdles, competition from generic entrants, and market acceptance. Future market performance will depend not only on the uptake of NILEMDO but also on the success of HLS's upcoming product launches, notably NEXLIZET, which combines bempedoic acid and ezetimibe.
In conclusion, HLS Therapeutics presents a compelling investment opportunity with its focus on innovative cardiovascular solutions. However, careful monitoring of regulatory developments and market dynamics will be essential for informed investor decisions moving forward.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
Canada NewsWire
- First-in-class, once-daily oral non-statin therapy now available by prescription across Canada
- Addresses a significant unmet need for over half a million Canadians who can not get to their LDL-C goal on statin-based therapy or who are statin intolerant
- Supported by the landmark CLEAR Outcomes trial demonstrating reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in nearly 14,000 patients
TORONTO, March 5, 2026 /CNW/ - HLS Therapeutics Inc. ("HLS" or the "Company") (TSX: HLS), a pharmaceutical company focused on addressing unmet needs in the treatment of psychiatric disorders and cardiovascular disease, today announced the commercial launch of NILEMDO™ (bempedoic acid) in Canada. NILEMDO is now available by prescription nationally. HLS in-licensed the exclusive rights to NILEMDO and NEXLIZET® (bempedoic acid and ezetimibe) for the Canadian market from Esperion Therapeutics Inc. ("Esperion") (NASDAQ: ESPR) in May 2025.
Health Canada approved NILEMDO in November 2025. NILEMDO is indicated to reduce LDL-C and the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults who require additional low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ("LDL-C") lowering due to an inability to reach target levels with currently available therapies or due to statin intolerance. Cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of death in Canada, yet many high-risk patients still cannot achieve guideline-recommended LDL-C targets.1 HLS estimates that more than half a million Canadians may benefit from NILEMDO.2
"Despite considerable evidence and guideline recommendations, too many Canadians are still not reaching their LDL-C targets" said Dr. Lawrence Leiter, Professor of Medicine and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. "Bempedoic acid (NILEMDO) offers a new option for Canadian patients who cannot achieve their LDL-C goal or are intolerant to statins. We now have a well-tolerated, once-daily oral therapy that is supported by strong clinical evidence including the large CLEAR Outcomes trial, that provides clinicians and their patients with a new means of reducing cardiovascular risk."
A NOVEL MECHANISM ADDRESSING A LARGE UNMET NEED
NILEMDO provides a novel, oral pathway for LDL-C lowering while being less likely to cause muscle-related side effects that limit statin adherence for many patients. In clinical practice, physicians typically initiate therapy with a statin, then add ezetimibe if additional LDL-C lowering is needed. NILEMDO fits directly into this established treatment paradigm, providing a meaningful step-up option for patients who remain above their LDL-C target on combination therapy or who cannot tolerate adequate statin doses. NILEMDO can be used alone or in combination with other LDL-lowering agents, including statins, ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors.
The approval of NILEMDO is supported by the CLEAR Outcomes trial, a landmark randomized, double-blind cardiovascular outcomes study in nearly 14,000 patients with high cardiovascular risk who were unable to take recommended statin therapy. The trial demonstrated that bempedoic acid significantly reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events ("MACE"), including cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, and coronary revascularization.3
"With the launch of NILEMDO, Canadians who have been unable to reach their LDL-C targets now have a new oral treatment option supported by robust cardiovascular outcomes data," said Craig Millian, CEO of HLS Therapeutics. "NILEMDO strengthens our cardiovascular portfolio and, along with Vascepa®, positions HLS as a leader in bringing novel oral cardiovascular medicines to the Canadian market. Importantly, we believe this medicine will help more Canadians achieve their LDL-C goals and reduce their cardiovascular risk."
Nilemdo has been submitted for reimbursement under private and public plans and is currently under review. HLS is expecting meaningful private payer coverage in Q2 and potential for public reimbursement in late 2026.
LOOKING AHEAD: NEXLIZET
HLS is also advancing its regulatory submission for NEXLIZET (bempedoic acid and ezetimibe), a once-daily combination pill that combines two complementary LDL-lowering mechanisms. NEXLIZET demonstrated approximately 38% LDL-C reduction in clinical trials. HLS is working with its partner Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. to respond to Health Canada's outstanding requirements as expeditiously as possible and anticipates a 2027 commercial launch.
ABOUT NILEMDO (bempedoic acid)
NILEMDO (bempedoic acid) is a once-daily oral medicine indicated in Canada to reduce LDL-C and the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults who require additional LDL-C lowering due to an inability to reach target levels with currently available therapies or due to statin intolerance. NILEMDO is approved and marketed globally, including in the United States (as NEXLETOL®) and in Europe, where it has been available since 2020. In Canada, NILEMDO will benefit from eight years of data protection starting from its November 17, 2025, approval date. This period, combined with existing and pending patents, provides market exclusivity for the drug extending until 2040.
To view the full Nilemdo product monograph, please click here.
ABOUT HLS THERAPEUTICS INC.
Formed in 2015, HLS is a pharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition and commercialization of late-stage development, commercial stage promoted and established branded pharmaceutical products in the North American markets. HLS's focus is on products targeting the central nervous system and cardiovascular therapeutic areas. HLS's management team is composed of seasoned pharmaceutical executives with a strong track record of success in these therapeutic areas and at managing products in each of these lifecycle stages. For more information visit: www.hlstherapeutics.com
FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding HLS and its business. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of HLS's management. In some cases the forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, including, among others, statements with respect to HLS's pursuit of additional product and pipeline opportunities in certain therapeutic markets, statements regarding growth opportunities and expectations regarding financial performance. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting HLS, including risks relating to the specialty pharmaceutical industry, risks related to the regulatory approval process, economic factors and many other factors beyond the control of HLS. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause HLS's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. A discussion of the material risks and assumptions associated with this release can be found in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 12, 2025, and Management's Discussion and Analysis dated November 12, 2025, both of which have been filed on SEDAR+ and can be accessed at www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and HLS undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
REFERENCES
- https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250305/t001a-eng.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Internal Company estimates
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2215024?utm_source=chatgpt.com
SOURCE HLS Therapeutics Inc.
View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2026/05/c4069.html
FAQ**
How does HLS Therapeutics Inc. plan to leverage its partnership with Esperion Therapeutics Inc. (ESPR) to maximize the market potential of NILEMDO in Canada?
What steps is HLS taking to ensure timely reimbursement approvals for NILEMDO from private and public healthcare plans in Canada, especially in relation to its partnership with Esperion Therapeutics Inc. (ESPR)?
Given the approval of NILEMDO by Health Canada, what marketing strategies will HLS Therapeutics implement to educate healthcare professionals about its benefits over statin therapies, and how will Esperion Therapeutics Inc. (ESPR) support these efforts?
With the anticipated launch of NEXLIZET in 2027, how does HLS Therapeutics plan to integrate this product alongside NILEMDO in the cardiovascular treatment landscape, particularly in collaboration with Esperion Therapeutics Inc. (ESPR)?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about HLS Therapeutics Inc. (TSXC: HLS:CC).
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