Arena, Ortho-McNeil extend diabetes partnership

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., Sept. 27 - Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. said Wednesday that Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. exercised its option to extend the research term for one additional year under the provisions of its partnership with Arena to develop compounds targeting the Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Receptor, or GDIR.

The GDIR is a novel receptor discovered by Arena that has the potential to stimulate insulin production in response to increases in blood glucose. By extending the research term for an additional year, Ortho-McNeil is committed to provide research funding to Arena in the amount of $2.4 million.

This research term extension clearly signifies the commitment Ortho-McNeil has made to this program and the considerable promise it holds for providing a novel oral diabetes treatment, officials noted.

Arena is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company located in San Diego.

© 2015 Prospect News.
All content on this website is protected by copyright law in the U.S. and elsewhere. For the use of the person downloading only.
Redistribution and copying are prohibited by law without written permission in advance from Prospect News.
Redistribution or copying includes e-mailing, printing multiple copies or any other form of reproduction.