UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 15, 2008

 

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

6166 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

858.453.7200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

In this report, “Arena Pharmaceuticals,” “Arena,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise provides.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

On December 15, 2008 we announced that Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Ortho-McNeil”) initiated under our partnership a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial of APD597, a novel oral drug candidate discovered by Arena that targets the glucose-dependent insulinotropic receptor (“GDIR”) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The GDIR was also discovered by Arena and has the potential to stimulate insulin release in response to increases in blood glucose.

 

Ortho-McNeil’s Phase 1 program will evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of APD597 in single and multiple ascending dose studies in healthy volunteers. Ortho-McNeil’s planned clinical studies will also include the evaluation of patients with type 2 diabetes.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements in this Form 8-K are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include statements about APD597’s development, therapeutic indication, efficacy and potential; the potential of the GDIR, including the potential to stimulate insulin release in response to increases in blood glucose; the protocol, design, scope, enrollment and other aspects of the Phase 1 program for APD597; future clinical studies; and the inclusion of the evaluation of patients with type 2 diabetes in the planned clinical studies. For such statements, we claim the protection of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual events or results may differ materially from our expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, clinical trials and studies may not proceed at the time or in the manner we expect or at all, the results of clinical trials or preclinical studies may not be predictive of future results, our ability to receive regulatory approval for our drug candidates, our ability to partner lorcaserin or other of our compounds or programs, the timing, success and cost of our research, out-licensing endeavors and clinical trials, our ability to obtain additional financing, our ability to obtain and defend our patents and the timing and receipt of payments and fees, if any, from our collaborators. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by our forward-looking statements are disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent our judgment as of the time of the filing of this Form 8-K. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as may be required under applicable law.

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: December 16, 2008	Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
	By:	/s/ Jack Lief
		Jack Lief
		President and Chief Executive Officer

 

2