Arena Pharmaceuticals Awaits FDA Advisory Committee Meeting

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

is awaiting its opportunity to readdress the U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration's Advisory Committee, as it continues to seek approval for its weight-loss drug Locaserin. The meeting is scheduled for May 10, 2012. This will be the second attempt by Arena to gain the favor of the committee, after it submitted additional results in response to concerns expressed by the FDA, within its previous Complete Response Letter and with respect to the company's previous New Drug Application. The company is currently in a race with Vivus, Inc. and Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc, to bring the first weight-loss drug to market in over a decade.