European Patent Office Issues Arena Patent for 5-HT2C Receptor Modulators

Arena Pharmaceuticals has been granted a patent titled, "5-HT2C Receptor Modulators," by the European Patent Office.

The patent relates to novel compounds that modulate the 5-HT2C serotonin receptor, which is thought to be involved in the regulation of food intake and may be useful in pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of obesity.

APD356, discovered by Arena, is an orally available 5-HT2C receptor modulator covered under the patent. Arena expects to complete a randomized, double-blind, multiple-dose Phase II clinical trial studying APD356 in obese patients this quarter. Arena intends to validate the patent in 31 European jurisdictions, including Germany, France, Italy, the UK and Spain, as well as Hong Kong.