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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.44

William Brinkerhoff
1011 Lincoln Ave.
Ann Arbor, Michigan  48104                                      April 19, 2002

Dear Bill,

         On behalf of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company"), I am pleased
to offer you a position with the Company. The following is an outline of the
terms of this offer:

1.   The position offered is that of Vice President of Business Development in
     the Operations and Finance Department reporting to Tim Mayleben.

2.   You shall be paid a salary of $13,333.33 per month plus a bonus of up to
     20% of base salary. The right to receive a bonus for the first year of
     employment or portion thereof for which the Company pays bonuses is
     dependent on continued employment during that period. The magnitude of the
     bonus, if any, will be determined, based upon achievement of a series of
     mutually agreed upon performance objectives/milestones. A proposed series
     of objectives/milestones will be developed between you and your supervisor.

3.   A benefits package will be provided to you, which are equivalent to that
     offered to other similarly situated employees with the Company.

4.   Subject to meeting eligibility requirements, we intend to grant to you an
     option to purchase up to 75,000 shares of the Company's common stock under
     one of the Company's equity compensation plans, subject to the approval of
     our Board of Directors. The option grant will become effective on the date
     of such approval, and will have an exercise price that will be equal to or
     greater than the fair market value of a share of our stock on the date of
     such approval, as determined by the Board of Directors. The terms and
     conditions of the option, along with the period during which the option
     will become exercisable, will be set forth in a Stock Option Agreement that
     you will be required to execute.

5.   Esperion employment begins with a 90-day evaluation period during which
     your performance will be evaluated. This evaluation, as well as
     continuation of employment after the 90-day period, will be based upon
     mutually agreed upon performance objectives that will be developed between
     you and your supervisor. If your employment during this period is
     terminated by the Company for reasons other than cause during the first 30
     days, you will be provided with a severance package of one month's salary,
     with a continuation of benefits during this period. If your employment is
     terminated by the Company for reasons other than cause between day 31 and
     the 60th day, you will be provided with a severance package of two months'



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     salary with a continuation of benefits during this period. If your
     employment is terminated by the Company for reasons other than cause
     between day 61 and the 90th day, you will be provided with a severance
     package of three months' salary with a continuation of benefits during this
     period. After successful completion of this 90-day evaluation period, if
     your employment is terminated by the Company for reasons other than cause,
     you will be provided a severance package of 6 months salary; with
     continuation of benefits during this period and 25% of your unvested
     options will automatically vest. Cause shall mean that the employee has
     engaged in disloyalty to the Company, including, without limitation, fraud,
     embezzlement, theft, commission of a felony or proven dishonesty in the
     course of his or her employment, has disclosed trade secrets or
     confidential information of the Company to persons not entitled to receive
     such information, or has engaged in such other behavior detrimental to the
     interests of the Company. If you terminate your employment with the Company
     voluntarily or if your employment is terminated by the company for cause,
     you will forfeit the severance package, as well as any of your unvested
     stock options.

6.   You will be required to execute the Company's standard forms of
     Non-Competition, as well as Confidentiality and Assignment Agreement.

7.   This employment relationship is one of employment at will. Either Esperion
     Therapeutics or you may terminate this employment agreement, with or
     without notice, and with or without cause at any time.

         If the terms of this offer are acceptable to you, please so indicate by
executing in the space provided below and fax to 734-222-1860, as well as mail
(an original copy) to the Company. Please respond to this offer within one week
from the date hereof. After this date (i.e. April 26, 2002) this offer may be
withdrawn at the discretion of the Company. If you have any questions, please
contact Susan Landauer, Human Resource Specialist at 734-222-1826.

         Welcome to Esperion Therapeutics! We look forward to working with you
to bring new medicines to a world of unmet medical needs.


                          Sincerely,

                           /s/ Tim Mayleben
                          Tim Mayleben
                          Senior Vice President, Operations and Finance & C.O.O.


AGREED AND ACCEPTED:

/s/ William F. Brinkerhoff              4/19/02
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Name                                      Date