Arena sells off Belviq rights

Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA) said it amended its licensing agreement with Eisai Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4523), granting the Japanese pharma worldwide development and commercialization rights to obesity drug Belviq lorcaserin. Arena said Eisai will be responsible for all development and commercialization costs.

Eisai already held Belviq's rights in most markets worldwide. The companies first partnered in 2010, and expanded the deal in 2013 to add more territories (see BioCentury Extra, Nov. 7, 2013)...