Have signal; want potency

Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Johnson & Johnson got their first human data supporting the proposition that an oral, first-in-class glucose-dependent insulinotropic receptor agonist could produce glucose control similar to Byetta exenatide, only without the injection. But rather than stepping right into Phase II testing in Type II diabetes, the partners will start Phase I testing of a more potent follow-on GDIR agonist this year.

Last week, the companies announced top-line conclusions from J&J's Phase I program, which Arena President and CEO Jack Lief said included at least a half dozen trials of APD668 dosed for 14 days in both healthy volunteers and patients with Type II diabetes. ...