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Arena Pharmaceuticals Announces Achievement of Phase 2 Clinical Milestone Under Cardiovascular Disease Collaboration With Merck

22 May 2006 - Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial of MK-0354, an Arena discovered orally administered drug candidate under development by Merck for the treatment of atherosclerosis and related disorders. The Phase 2 clinical trial triggers a $4 million milestone payment to Arena under the research collaboration and license agreement for compounds targeting a G protein-coupled receptor, or GPCR, that have the potential to regulate plasma lipid profiles, including HDL, or the "good" cholesterol, similar to the therapeutic action of niacin.
 
The Phase 2 clinical trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that will further evaluate safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics, as well as potential efficacy, of MK-0354 in patients with dyslipidemia.