Arena's obesity drug safe for heart patients

Clinical Trials: "Lorcaserin, Arena's internally discovered oral drug candidate for the treatment of obesity, is in an ongoing phase III programme. The compound is the first in a new class of obesity drug candidates targeting the 5-HT2C serotonin receptor, which is located in the hypothalamus, a key area of the brain associated with regulation of food intake and metabolism. Results from phase II studies demonstrated that treatment with lorcaserin produced highly statistically significant, progressive and dose-dependent weight loss over a 12-week period. Lorcaserin was generally well tolerated at all doses in the phase II clinical trials and had no apparent effects on heart valves or pulmonary artery pressure."