Esperion Acquires Corstasis, Bets on Nasal Spray to Transform Heart Care

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – March 03, 2026 – In a strategic move poised to reshape outpatient cardiovascular care, Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ESPR) has announced a definitive agreement to acquire the privately-held Corstasis Therapeutics. The deal, centered on the first-in-class nasal diuretic Enbumyst™, gives Esperion a powerful new asset to address a multi-billion-dollar market and marks a significant step in its long-term growth strategy.

Esperion will pay $75 million in cash upfront for Corstasis, with an additional $180 million in potential payments tied to future regulatory and commercial milestones. The agreement also includes low double-digit royalties on sales of Enbumyst, which gained FDA approval in September 2025. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026.

A New Tool for a Persistent Problem

The acquisition places a spotlight on the significant unmet needs in managing edema, or fluid overload, a debilitating symptom for millions. An estimated 6.7 million American adults live with congestive heart failure (CHF), and fluid overload is a primary driver of the more than one million hospitalizations for the condition each year. Patients with chronic liver and kidney disease face similar struggles.

For decades, clinicians have relied on oral loop diuretics as a first-line treatment. However, their effectiveness can be a gamble. In patients with worsening heart failure, gut edema can impair the absorption of oral medications, rendering them less effective precisely when they are needed most. This often leaves patients and doctors with no choice but to resort to intravenous (IV) diuretics, which require administration in a hospital or clinic setting, driving up healthcare costs and patient burden.

Enbumyst™ (bumetanide nasal spray) was developed to bridge this critical gap. As the first and only FDA-approved nasal diuretic, it offers a self-administered, non-oral, non-IV option for managing edema at home. Clinical data has shown that the nasal spray provides rapid and predictable absorption, with a diuretic response comparable to an IV injection. This innovation could empower patients to intervene earlier at the first sign of worsening symptoms, potentially preventing the cycle of diuretic failure and re-hospitalization.

“Edema and congestion remain the most burdensome and persistent symptoms for patients living with heart failure, often driving hospitalizations, impairing quality of life, and complicating day‑to‑day disease management,” noted James Udelson, MD, Chief of Cardiology at Tufts Medical Center. “The availability of an FDA‑approved intranasal diuretic like Enbumyst represents an important therapeutic advance. Its novel intranasal delivery route offers the potential for more flexible, rapid, and patient‑friendly fluid management that can be done at home - precisely the kind of innovation we need.”

Esperion's Strategic Play for a $4 Billion Market

For Esperion, this acquisition is a calculated move that accelerates its 'Vision 2040,' a long-term plan to evolve into a multi-product, innovation-driven global pharmaceutical company. Known primarily for its oral, non-statin cholesterol-lowering therapies Nexletol® and Nexlizet®, the company is now making a decisive push to diversify its portfolio and solidify its leadership in cardiovascular health.

“This acquisition represents a compelling and strategically aligned opportunity that accelerates Esperion’s momentum and advances our long-term Vision 2040,” stated Sheldon Koenig, President and CEO of Esperion. “Enbumyst brings meaningful innovation to millions of patients who continue to struggle with the daily burden of diuretic therapy.”

Esperion is targeting a U.S. market opportunity for Enbumyst that it estimates exceeds $4 billion. The company plans to leverage its established commercial infrastructure and sales force, already engaged with cardiologists and primary care physicians, to drive a successful launch. The acquisition not only adds a near-term revenue driver but also expands Esperion's footprint into the adjacent and often overlapping fields of hepatic and renal disease.

The deal is being financed through Esperion's existing credit facilities and a royalty monetization agreement, signaling confidence from its financial partners in the commercial potential of Enbumyst. This strategic financial structuring allows the company to pursue significant growth without immediate, dilutive equity financing.

A Competitive Edge in a New Class of Therapy

Corstasis Therapeutics, founded in 2018 by CEO Ben Esque, successfully navigated Enbumyst from development to FDA approval, a significant achievement for a private biopharmaceutical firm. The product’s approval was based on robust clinical data, including the RSQ-777-02 trial, which demonstrated its rapid absorption and bioequivalence to oral bumetanide.

While Enbumyst is first in its class as a nasal diuretic, it enters a market with an emerging competitor in at-home diuretic therapy: MannKind's Furoscix. Approved in 2022, Furoscix delivers the diuretic furosemide via a wearable, on-body infuser over a five-hour period. While it also addresses the need for outpatient IV-alternative therapy, Esperion is betting that the convenience and speed of a simple nasal spray will offer a superior patient experience and a significant competitive advantage.

Furthermore, the acquisition grants Esperion ownership of Corstasis's follow-on pipeline, which includes patents for subcutaneous bumetanide formulations. These could lead to future innovations like multi-dose pen injectors, potentially with remote monitoring capabilities, further solidifying Esperion's position in the long-term management of chronic fluid overload.

“Enbumyst was purpose-built in partnership with the cardiology community to address a clear unmet need. Today's acquisition validates our team's vision and approach,” said Ben Esque. “We are excited about the future of Enbumyst in Esperion’s hands.”

As the transaction moves toward its expected close in the second quarter, all eyes will be on Esperion. The successful integration and commercialization of Enbumyst could not only deliver substantial value to the company's shareholders but also herald a new, more patient-centric standard of care for millions living with the daily challenge of chronic edema.