Arena Pharmaceuticals says it will launch a pivotal trial of a closely watched obesity drug in the second half of the year after receiving positive safety data from a mid-stage trial. Preclinical toxicology studies indicate that APD356 did not harm heart valves or blood vessels in the lung. Phase IIb results are expected in June. Arena also said that it hoped to answer FDA questions about its insomnia drug APD125 from currently available data.

- read this AP report for more information