ARENA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. and SAN DIEGO, July 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Eisai Inc. and Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARNA) announced today that an article based on post-hoc analyses from the three pivotal Phase 3 trials of lorcaserin entitled, "Early Weight Loss While on Lorcaserin, Diet, and Exercise as a Predictor of Week 52 Weight-Loss Outcomes," was recently published in the online issue of Obesity, the official peer reviewed journal of The Obesity Society. The objective of these analyses was to identify whether there is an early treatment milestone that can predict greater than or equal to 5% weight loss at one year in patients treated with lorcaserin.
About BELVIQ(®) (lorcaserin HCl) CIV
BELVIQ is a serotonin 2C receptor agonist approved in the United States as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m(2) or greater (obese), or BMI of 27 kg/m(2) or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical condition, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes. The safety and efficacy of coadministration of BELVIQ with other products intended for weight loss, including prescription drugs (e.g., phentermine), over-the-counter drugs, and herbal preparations, have not been established. The effect of BELVIQ on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been established.
BELVIQ is believed to decrease food consumption and promote satiety by selectively activating serotonin 2C receptors in the brain. The exact mechanism of action of BELVIQ is not known.
BELVIQ is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Eisai markets and distributes BELVIQ in the United States, and Arena manufactures and supplies the finished commercial product from its facility in Switzerland.
For more information about BELVIQ, click here for the full US FDA-approved Product Information or visit www.BELVIQ.com.
Important Safety Information
Contraindication
-- BELVIQ should not be taken during pregnancy or by women who are planning
to become pregnant.
Warnings and Precautions
-- BELVIQ is a serotonergic drug. The development of potentially
life-threatening serotonin syndrome or Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
(NMS)-like reactions have been reported during use of serotonergic
drugs, including, but not limited to, selective serotonin-norepinephrine
reuptake inhibitors, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors,
tricyclic antidepressants, bupropion, triptans, dietary supplements such
as St. John's Wort and tryptophan, drugs that impair metabolism of
serotonin (including monoamine oxidase inhibitors), dextromethorphan,
lithium, tramadol, antipsychotics or other dopamine antagonists,
particularly when used in combination. Patients should be monitored for
the emergence of serotonin syndrome symptoms or NMS-like reactions,
including agitation, hallucinations, coma, tachycardia, labile blood
pressure, hyperthermia, hyperreflexia, incoordination, nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, and muscle rigidity. Treatment with BELVIQ and any concomitant
serotonergic or antidopaminergic agents should be discontinued
immediately if the above events occur, and supportive symptomatic
treatment should be initiated.
-- Patients should not take BELVIQ in combination with drugs that have been
associated with valvular heart disease (eg, cabergoline). In clinical
trials, 2.4% of patients taking BELVIQ and 2.0% of patients taking
placebo developed valvular regurgitation: none of these patients were
symptomatic. BELVIQ should be used with caution in patients with
congestive heart failure (CHF). Patients who develop signs and symptoms
of valvular heart disease, including dyspnea, dependent edema, CHF, or a
new cardiac murmur, should be evaluated and discontinuation of BELVIQ
should be considered.
-- Impairment in attention, memory, somnolence, confusion, and fatigue have
been reported in patients taking BELVIQ. Patients should not drive a car
or operate heavy machinery until they know how BELVIQ affects them.
-- The recommended dose of 10 mg twice daily should not be exceeded, as
higher doses may cause euphoria, hallucination, and dissociation.
Monitor patients for the development or worsening of depression,
suicidal thoughts or behaviors, and/or any changes in mood. Discontinue
BELVIQ in patients who develop suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
-- Weight loss may increase the risk of hypoglycemia in patients with type
2 diabetes mellitus who are being treated with antidiabetic medications,
so measurement of blood sugar levels before and during treatment with
BELVIQ is recommended. Decreases in doses of antidiabetic medications or
changes in medication regimen should be considered.
-- Men who experience priapism should immediately discontinue BELVIQ and
seek emergency medical attention. BELVIQ should be used with caution
with erectile dysfunction medications. BELVIQ should be used with
caution in men who have conditions that might predispose them to
priapism (eg, sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia), or in
men with anatomical deformation of the penis (eg, angulation, cavernosal
fibrosis, or Peyronie's disease).
-- Because BELVIQ may cause a slow heartbeat, it should be used with
caution in patients with a history of bradycardia or heart block greater
than first degree.
-- Consider monitoring for CBC changes, prolactin excess, and pulmonary
hypertension.
Most Common Adverse Reactions
-- In patients without diabetes: headache (17%), dizziness (9%), fatigue
(7%), nausea (8%), dry mouth (5%), and constipation (6%).
-- In patients with diabetes: hypoglycemia (29%), headache (15%), back pain
(12%), cough (8%), and fatigue (7%).
Nursing Mothers
-- BELVIQ should not be taken by women who are nursing.
BELVIQ(® )is a federally controlled substance that may lead to abuse or dependence.
About Eisai Inc.
At Eisai Inc., human health care is our goal. We give our first thoughts to patients and their families, and helping to increase the benefits health care provides. As the US pharmaceutical subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co., Ltd., we have a passionate commitment to patient care that is the driving force behind our efforts to help address unmet medical needs. We are a fully integrated pharmaceutical business with discovery, clinical, manufacturing and marketing capabilities. Our key areas of commercial focus include oncology and specialty care (Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and metabolic disorders). To learn more about Eisai Inc., please visit us at http://us.eisai.com.
Eisai Inc. has affiliates that are part of a global product creation organization that includes R&D facilities in Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, as well as a global demand chain organization that includes manufacturing facilities in Maryland and North Carolina. Eisai's global areas of R&D focus include neuroscience; oncology; metabolic disorders; vascular, inflammatory and immunological reaction; and antibody-based programs.
About Arena Pharmaceuticals
Arena is embracing the challenge of improving health by seeking to bring innovative medicines targeting G protein-coupled receptors to patients. Arena is focused on discovering, developing and commercializing additional drugs to address unmet medical needs. Arena's US operations are located in San Diego, California, and its operations outside of the United States, including its commercial manufacturing facility, are located in Zofingen, Switzerland. For more information, visit Arena's website at www.arenapharm.com.
Arena has granted exclusive marketing and distribution rights for BELVIQ to Eisai Inc. and Eisai Co., Ltd., for the United States and most other territories worldwide.
Arena Pharmaceuticals(®) and Arena(® )are registered service marks of Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. BELVIQ(®) is a registered trademark of Arena Pharmaceuticals GmbH.
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 therapeutic indication, use, safety, efficacy, mechanism of action, and potential of BELVIQ or lorcaserin; the significance of the post-hoc analyses and their results; rights and obligations under the marketing and supply agreement among Arena and Eisai; embracing the challenge of improving health; seeking to bring innovative medicines to patients; and Arena's focus, plans, goals, strategy, expectations, research and development programs, and ability to discover and 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 Arena's actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: risks related to commercializing drugs, including regulatory, manufacturing, supply and marketing issues and the availability and use of BELVIQ; cash and revenues generated from BELVIQ, including the impact of competition; Arena's revenues will be based in part on estimates, judgment and accounting policies, and incorrect estimates or disagreement regarding estimates or accounting policies may result in changes to Arena's guidance or previously reported results; the timing and outcome of regulatory review is uncertain, and BELVIQ may not be approved for marketing when expected or ever in combination with another drug, for another indication or using a different formulation or in any other territory for any indication; regulatory decisions in one territory may impact other regulatory decisions and Arena's business prospects; government and commercial reimbursement and pricing decisions; risks related to relying on collaborative arrangements; the timing and receipt of payments and fees, if any, from collaborators; the entry into or modification or termination of collaborative arrangements; unexpected or unfavorable new data; nonclinical and clinical data is voluminous and detailed, and regulatory agencies may interpret or weigh the importance of data differently and reach different conclusions than Arena or others, request additional information, have additional recommendations or change their guidance or requirements before or after approval; data and other information related to any of Arena's research and development may not meet regulatory requirements or otherwise be sufficient for (or Arena or a collaborator may not pursue) further research and development, regulatory review or approval or continued marketing; Arena's ability to obtain and defend patents; the timing, success and cost of Arena's research and development; 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 expected or at all; having adequate funds; and satisfactory resolution of litigation or other disagreements with others. 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: Eisai Inc.
Investor Inquiries: Media Inquiries:
Alex Scott Laurie Landau
alex_scott@eisai.com Laurie_Landau@eisai.com
201.746.2177 201.746.2510
Contact: Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Craig M. Audet, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, David Schull, President
Operations and Head of Global Regulatory
Affairs david.schull@russopartnersllc.com
caudet@arenapharm.com 858.717.2310
858.453.7200, ext. 1612
SOURCE Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
