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Belviq

Generic name: lorcaserin
Treatment for: Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight)

Update: Belviq (lorcaserin) Now FDA Approved - June 27, 2012

Arena Pharmaceuticals Receives PDUFA Date for Lorcaserin NDA

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 26, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of October 22, 2010, for the review of the lorcaserin New Drug Application (NDA). The acceptance of the lorcaserin NDA filing confirms that the application is sufficiently complete to permit a substantive review, and the PDUFA date is the goal date for the FDA to complete its review of the NDA.

Lorcaserin is Arena's internally discovered and developed drug candidate for weight management, including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss, and is intended for obese patients or overweight patients with at least one weight-related co-morbid condition.

Jack Lief, Arena's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "With an October PDUFA date for the lorcaserin NDA, we are another step closer to our goal of improving the treatment of obesity. We believe that lorcaserin, if approved, will be well positioned as first-line therapy to help patients achieve sustainable weight loss in a well-tolerated manner."

The NDA is based on a data package from lorcaserin's development program that includes 18 clinical trials totaling 8,576 patients. The pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial program, BLOOM (Behavioral modification and Lorcaserin for Overweight and Obesity Management) and BLOSSOM (Behavioral modification and LOrcaserin Second Study for Obesity Management), evaluated nearly 7,200 patients treated for up to two years. In both trials, lorcaserin produced statistically significant weight loss with excellent safety and tolerability.

Phase 3 Program Overview

BLOOM and BLOSSOM comprise the pivotal Phase 3 program and are the basis of the lorcaserin NDA. These double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials evaluated obese patients, Body Mass Index (BMI) 30 to 45, with or without co-morbid conditions and overweight patients, BMI 27 to 29.9, with at least one co-morbid condition, such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases or glucose intolerance.

In addition to the pivotal program, Arena is evaluating lorcaserin in obese and overweight patients with type 2 diabetes in its BLOOM-DM (Behavioral modification and Lorcaserin for Overweight and Obesity Management in Diabetes Mellitus) trial. Arena plans to file the results of BLOOM-DM as a supplement to the NDA.

About Lorcaserin

Lorcaserin is a novel single agent that represents the first in a new class of selective serotonin 2C receptor agonists. The serotonin 2C receptor is expressed in the brain, including the hypothalamus, an area involved in the control of appetite and metabolism. Stimulation of this receptor is strongly associated with feeding behavior and satiety. Arena has patents that cover lorcaserin in the US and other jurisdictions, which in most cases are capable of continuing into 2023 without taking into account any patent term extensions or other exclusivity Arena might obtain.

About Arena Pharmaceuticals

Arena is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing oral drugs that target G protein-coupled receptors, an important class of validated drug targets, in four major therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, central nervous system, inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Arena's most advanced drug candidate, lorcaserin, is intended for weight management, including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss, and has completed a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial program. Arena submitted an NDA for lorcaserin to the FDA on December 22, 2009, and the FDA has assigned an October 22, 2010, PDUFA date for the review of the application.

Arena Pharmaceuticals® and Arena® are registered service marks of the company.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include statements about the development, advancement, therapeutic indication and use, tolerability, safety, selectivity, efficacy and regulatory review and approval of lorcaserin; the significance of the acceptance of the NDA filing and the PDUFA date assignment; the potential timing for the FDA to complete its review of the lorcaserin NDA; lorcaserin's commercial and other potential, including in improving the treatment of obesity and in being first-line therapy to help patients achieve sustainable weight loss in a well-tolerated manner; future activities and events relating to lorcaserin, including submitting the BLOOM-DM results as a supplement to the NDA; lorcaserin's patent coverage; and Arena's goals, strategy, research and development programs, and ability to develop compounds and commercialize drugs. For such statements, Arena claims the protection of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual events or results may differ materially from Arena's expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, regulatory authorities may not find data from Arena's clinical trials and other studies sufficient for regulatory approval; the timing and ability of Arena to receive regulatory approval for its drug candidates; the timing, success and cost of Arena's lorcaserin program and other of its research and development programs; results of clinical trials and other studies are subject to different interpretations and may not be predictive of future results; clinical trials and other studies may not proceed at the time or in the manner Arena expects or at all; Arena's ability to partner or commercialize lorcaserin or other of its compounds or programs; Arena's ability to obtain adequate funds; Arena's ability to obtain and defend its patents; and the timing and receipt of payments and fees, if any, from Arena's collaborators. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by Arena's forward-looking statements are disclosed in Arena's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent Arena's judgment as of the time of this release. Arena disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as may be required under applicable law.

Source: Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

CONTACT: Jack Lief, President and CEO, or Cindy McGee, Manager, IR and
Corporate Communications, +1-858-453-7200, Ext. 1479, cmcgee@arenapharm.com,
both of Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; or Media, David Schull, President,
+1-212-845-4271, david.schull@russopartnersllc.com, or Anthony J. Russo,
Ph.D., CEO, +1-212-845-4251, tony.russo@russopartnersllc.com, both of Russo
Partners for Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Web Site: http://www.arenapharm.com/

Posted: February 2010

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