In a revised approach to its plan with Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. dating to November 2013, Eisai Inc. recently agreed to purchase all development and marketing rights for Arena’s weight loss treatment medication, lorcaserin hydrochloride CIV.
Following modifications this month to the 2-year-old contract, Eisai becomes responsible for oversight and execution of decisions regarding international distribution as well as regulatory authorizations of the drug, which was first approved in 2012 under the brand name of BELVIQ to address chronic weight issues for obese adults.
BELVIQ was recently approved in South Korea, Brazil and Mexico, with plans to expand into Taiwan and Israel. Eisai stated in a Jan. 4 news release that it expects the new terms to allow greater latitude for both development and marketing “to address unmet medical needs in the clinical management of obesity, and increase the benefits for patients and their families worldwide.”
Changes in the initial contract also include a reduction of purchase price based on net sales figures and deletion of additional conditions.
“All other unearned purchase price adjustments and clinical and commercial milestones from the original agreements have been eliminated,” Eisai said. “In addition, a technology transfer will take place to allow Eisai the option to participate in the manufacture of lorcaserin.”
The original agreement was executed between Eisai, headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey; and Arena's wholly owned subsidiary, Arena Pharmaceuticals GmbH.
Eisai is the U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co. Ltd., specializing in oncology and neurology. Esai operates laboratories in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania; and administrative hubs in Maryland and North Carolina.
