Arena and Eisai report positive results from lorcaserin BLOOM-DM trial in obese, overweight diabetics

Nov 9 2010

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARNA) and Eisai Inc. reported today that top-line results from the one-year lorcaserin BLOOM-DM trial demonstrate statistically significant weight loss in obese and overweight patients with type 2 diabetes. In this trial, lorcaserin met all three co-primary efficacy endpoints. In addition, as described below, lorcaserin patients taking lorcaserin 10 mg twice daily (BID) achieved statistically significant improvements in multiple secondary endpoints, including HbA1c, as compared to patients randomized to placebo.

The BLOOM-DM study evaluated 604 obese and overweight patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients were randomized to lorcaserin 10 mg BID.

The three primary efficacy endpoints at Week 52 were as follows: the proportion of patients who lose at least 5% of their baseline body weight; change from baseline in body weight; and the proportion of patients who lose at least 10% of their baseline body weight. Using Modified Intent-to-Treat Last Observation Carried Forward (MITT-LOCF) analysis, lorcaserin 10 mg BID met the three primary efficacy endpoints by producing statistically significant weight loss compared to placebo (p<0.0001). At Week 52, 37.5% of patients treated with lorcaserin 10 mg BID achieved at least 5% weight loss, more than double the 16.1% of patients taking placebo. Patients treated with lorcaserin 10 mg BID achieved mean weight loss of 4.5% (4.7 kg), compared to 1.5% (1.6 kg) for placebo. Also, at Week 52, 16.3% of lorcaserin 10 mg BID patients achieved at least 10% weight loss, compared to 4.4% of patients taking placebo.  

"We look forward to reviewing the BLOOM-DM data with the FDA as the efficacy results are aligned with the agency's categorical benchmark for weight management," said Jack Lief, Arena's President and Chief Executive Officer.

BLOOM-DM also evaluated multiple secondary endpoints at Week 52. Five families of endpoints have been or are being evaluated: glycemic, lipid, blood pressure, body composition, and Quality of Life (QOL). Data from the first three families are available, and analysis of body composition and QOL are pending. Within the glycemic, lipid and blood pressure families, lorcaserin patients achieved statistically significant improvements relative to placebo in HbA1c and fasting glucose. Lorcaserin 10 mg BID patients achieved a 0.9% reduction in HbA1c, compared to a 0.4% reduction for the placebo group (p<0.0001). At Week 52, changes with lorcaserin treatment relative to placebo for fasting insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were not statistically significant.

SOURCE Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.