Transformational Leader of the Year

When Koenig assumed leadership in 2021, he faced significant challenges, including restrictive indications for the company's products, NEXLETOL® (bempedoic acid) and NEXLIZET® (bempedoic acid and ezetimibe), which hampered healthcare professionals' ability to prescribe them. The company also struggled with unfavorable financial situations and ongoing legal issues that limited its growth potential.

Under Koenig's guidance, the clinical team successfully navigated the bempedoic acid through a cardiovascular outcomes trial and the challenging FDA approval process, resulting in expanded indications. In 2020, the groundbreaking products first received approval for patients needing additional LDL-C lowering. Four years later, they achieved another significant milestone by becoming the only non-statin oral LDL-C lowering medication approved for reducing cardiovascular risk in both primary and secondary prevention patients. This critical indication addresses a substantial unmet need, allowing Esperion to assist millions of patients who cannot reach their LDL-C goals with existing therapies.

Esperion is dedicated to tackling cardiovascular disease, the leading global killer, particularly among often-overlooked populations with limited treatment options. With bempedoic acid now providing comprehensive coverage for cholesterol management and cardiovascular risk reduction, the company is poised to make a significant impact on global heart health.

Additionally, under Koenig's leadership, Esperion established partnerships with Daiichi Sankyo in Europe and Otsuka in Japan to market its products in those regions. The company is actively seeking further partnerships worldwide to build a truly global brand for its bempedoic acid products and its pipeline initiatives through the Next Generation project. Collaborating closely with Chief Financial Officer Ben Halladay, they developed innovative strategies to address financial challenges and successfully resolved critical legal matters, all of which benefited the company.