FDA confirms Advisory Committee meeting date for lorcaserin NDA review

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARNA) and Eisai Inc. announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified the company of the confirmed scheduling of an Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee meeting on September 16, 2010, for the review of the lorcaserin New Drug Application (NDA). Lorcaserin, which Arena discovered and has developed for weight management, is intended for obese patients as well as overweight patients who have at least one weight-related co-morbid condition.

"Our primary objective at this time is to obtain FDA approval of lorcaserin," said Jack Lief, Arena's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We have been preparing for this anticipated Advisory Committee meeting, and look forward to reviewing lorcaserin's profile with the panel members."

Arena submitted the lorcaserin NDA on December 22, 2009, and the FDA assigned a PDUFA date, the target date for the agency to complete its review of the application, of October 22, 2010.