Businessweek

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of oral drugs that target G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in four therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, central nervous system, inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Lorcaserin Program The company’s drug candidate, lorcaserin, is intended for weight management, including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss. Lorcaserin is a new chemical entity that acts as a selective serotonin 2C receptor agonist. As of February 15, 2012, the company owned patents that cover compositions of matter for lorcaserin and related compounds and methods of treatment utilizing lorcaserin and related compounds in 69 jurisdictions, including the United States, Japan, China, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and Canada, and had applications pending in two other jurisdictions. Collaboration: In 2010, the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Arena GmbH, entered into a marketing and supply agreement with Eisai Inc. (Eisai). Under this agreement, Arena GmbH granted Eisai exclusive rights to commercialize lorcaserin in the United States and its territories and possessions subject to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the lorcaserin new drug application (NDA). As part of the agreement, Arena GmbH is obligated to manufacture lorcaserin at its facility in Switzerland, and Eisai is obligated to purchase all of its requirements of lorcaserin from Arena GmbH. APD811 Program APD811, an orally available agonist of the prostacyclin receptor, is intended for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PAH is a progressive, life-threatening disorder characterized by increased pressure in the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. APD334 Program The company is in the process of researching and developing S1P1 receptor agonists, including APD334, as potential oral treatments for conditions related to autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. APD371 Program The company is in the process of researching and developing APD371 for the potential treatment of pain. It has identified several novel, potent, CB2-selective, orally available lead compounds that are intended to retain the analgesic activity of CB receptor agonists while avoiding the limiting psychotropic side effects. The company’s lead candidate, APD371, is in preclinical development. GPR119 Program The company’s GPR119 program represents a novel pharmaceutical target for discovering orally available small molecule agonists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. GPR119 is expressed in cells other than pancreatic beta cells, such as endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Strategy The main elements of the company’s strategy are as follows: focus on lorcaserin, selectively advance its other lead candidates, and maintain research and development capabilities to advance its pipeline. Intellectual Property As of February 15, 2012, the company owned, in part or in whole, or had exclusively licensed the following patents: 56 in the United States, 14 in Japan, 6 in China, 18 in Germany, 18 in France, 18 in the United Kingdom, 15 in Italy, 15 in Spain, 7 in Canada, and approximately 491 in other jurisdictions. In addition, as of February 15, 2012, the company had approximately 517 patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, foreign patent offices and international patent authorities. These patents and patent applications are divided into 89 distinct families of related patents that are directed to chemical compositions of matter, methods of treatment using chemical compositions, research on GPCR genes, Constitutively Activated Receptor Technology (CART), Melanophore technology, other novel screening methods or pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. Environmental Regulations In the United States, the company is subject to regulation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Environmental Protection Act, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Controlled Substances Act and other federal, state or local regulations. Research and Development The company’s research and development expenses included $58.7 million, as of December 31, 2011. Significant Events In November 2012, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has entered into a co-development and license agreement with ILDong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., for temanogrel, Arena's internally discovered inverse agonist of the serotonin 2A receptor. Competition The company’s competitors with respect to lorcaserin include Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., the U.S. prescription drug unit of the Roche Group, which markets orlistat under the brand name Xenical, and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare which markets an over-the-counter low-dose version of orlistat in the United States under the brand name alli. History Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1997.