Arena Pharmaceuticals Issued Patent for Drug Screening Methods for Treatment of Metabolic-Related Disorders
Tuesday June 7, 3:57 pm ET
Patent is Part of Collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc. to Discover and Develop Potential Therapies for Cardiovascular Disease
SAN DIEGO, June 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARNA - News) announced today that it was issued U.S. patent number 6,902,902, entitled "Human G Protein-Coupled Receptors and Modulators Thereof for the Treatment of Metabolic-Related Disorders," by the U.S. Patent Office. The patent relates to certain drug screening methods that utilize the niacin receptor. Ligands of the niacin receptor play a role in regulating plasma lipid profiles, including HDL cholesterol, the so-called "good cholesterol." The invention set forth in the newly issued patent and Arena's chemistry capabilities represented the basis for initiating the cardiovascular disease collaboration with Merck.
"The invention set forth in this patent has been instrumental in identifying G Protein-Coupled Receptor targeted compounds that have the potential to regulate plasma lipid profiles, including HDL cholesterol, similar to the therapeutic action of niacin," commented Jack Lief, Arena's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Utilizing the technology in this patent, our cardiovascular disease collaboration with Merck is making progress towards its goal of discovering a drug with improved characteristics over today's treatments."
"Merck is pleased with the progress of this program to date," stated Mervyn Turner, Ph.D., Senior Vice President Worldwide Licensing and External Research. "We look forward to continued progress in this program, which has the potential to bring important benefits to cardiovascular disease patients."
Blood principally contains two types cholesterol: LDL and HDL cholesterol. Generally, LDL is considered the "bad cholesterol" because it can leave deposits inside the walls of blood vessels which can adversely effect blood flow and over time increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. HDL cholesterol, considered the "good cholesterol," can help clear the "bad" deposits caused by LDL cholesterol by removing them from the walls of blood vessels and transporting them to the liver for processing and removal from the body. Drugs that can influence the levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol may potentially provide clinical benefits to patients by reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
About Arena Pharmaceuticals
Arena is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecule drugs in four major therapeutic areas: metabolic, cardiovascular, inflammatory and central nervous system diseases. Arena is developing a broad pipeline of compounds that act on an important class of drug targets called G protein-coupled receptors, or GPCRs, using its proprietary technologies, including CART(TM) (Constitutively Activated Receptor Technology) and Melanophore. Arena's most advanced clinical compound, APD356, a selective 5-HT2C serotonin receptor agonist for the treatment of obesity, is in Phase 2. Arena is also conducting Phase 1 clinical trials on APD125, a compound with a novel mechanism of action (a selective 5-HT2A receptor antagonist) for the treatment of insomnia. Arena has active collaborations with two major pharmaceutical companies, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and Merck & Co., Inc., for the treatment of atherosclerosis and related disorders.
Arena Pharmaceuticals® and Arena® are registered service marks of the company. CART(TM) is an unregistered service mark 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 progress of, and expectations relating to, Arena's collaboration with Merck and related compounds, the potential clinical benefits of drugs that can influence the levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol, and other statements about Arena's strategy, technologies, preclinical and clinical programs, and ability to develop compounds. 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, the timing, success and cost of Arena's research, out-licensing endeavors and clinical studies, Arena's ability to obtain additional financing, Arena's ability to obtain and defend its patents, Arena's patent protection, and the timing and receipt of payments and fees, if any, from Arena's collaborators, including Ortho-McNeil and Merck. 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.
Contacts: Jack Lief Susan Neath
President and CEO Atkins + Associates
Media & Investor Relations
David Walsey (858) 527-3486
Director, Corporate Communications
Arena Pharmaceuticals
(858) 453-7200, ext. 1682 |
