Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has been issued US patent number 6,902,902, entitled "Human G Protein-Coupled Receptors and Modulators Thereof for the Treatment of Metabolic-Related Disorders," by the US Patent Office.

The patent relates to certain drug screening methods that utilize the niacin receptor. Ligands of the niacin receptor play a role in regulating plasma lipid profiles, including HDL cholesterol, the so-called "good cholesterol." The invention set forth in the newly issued patent and Arena's chemistry capabilities represented the basis for initiating the cardiovascular disease collaboration with Merck, the release said.

"The invention set forth in this patent has been instrumental in identifying G Protein-Coupled Receptor targeted compounds that have the potential to regulate plasma lipid profiles, including HDL cholesterol, similar to the therapeutic action of niacin," commented Jack Lief, Arena's president and CEO. "Utilizing the technology in this patent, our cardiovascular disease collaboration with Merck is making progress towards its goal of discovering a drug with improved characteristics over today's treatments," he added.