Form 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 15, 2013

 

 

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   000-31161   23-2908305

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  

(Commission

File Number)

  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

6154 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

858.453.7200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

In this report, “Arena Pharmaceuticals,” “Arena,” “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and our wholly owned subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise provides. Arena Pharmaceuticals® and Arena® are registered service marks of Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. BELVIQ® is a registered trademark of Arena Pharmaceuticals GmbH.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On October 15, 2013, we reported that Eisai Inc. will increase its BELVIQ (lorcaserin HCl) sales force to approximately 400 representatives by December 2013, doubling the size of the sales force from when BELVIQ became available in the United States in June 2013.

The expansion of the sales force, which has commenced and follows increases in coverage of BELVIQ by health plans and pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, since the launch, will enable Eisai to reach approximately 65,000 physicians in the United States, including primary care providers, endocrinologists, cardiovascular specialists and gastrointestinal specialists. BELVIQ is now covered by several prominent health plans and PBMs, including, among others, Express Scripts (including its legacy Express Scripts and Medco operations), Tufts, Health Alliance Plan, Excellus BCBS, Highmark BCBS, BCBS of Michigan, BCBS of North Carolina and Healthnet (California), according to BusinessOne Technologies, Inc. While the exact coverage for BELVIQ varies by patient, this improved access means more patients will receive coverage support from their health plan or PBM.

Eisai is responsible for the marketing and distribution of BELVIQ in the United States under its agreement with us.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this Form 8-K are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include statements about the potential of BELVIQ; the expansion of the BELVIQ sales force, including the number of representatives, related timing and expectations and significance; reimbursement coverage of BELVIQ, including the improvement of the coverage; and rights and obligations under the marketing and supply agreement with Eisai. For such statements, Arena claims the protection of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual events or results may differ materially from Arena’s expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: risks related to commercializing drugs, including regulatory, manufacturing and supply issues and the availability and use of BELVIQ; cash and revenues generated from BELVIQ, including the impact of competition; our revenues will be based in part on estimates, judgment and accounting policies, and incorrect estimates or disagreement regarding estimates or accounting policies may result in changes to our guidance or previously reported results; the timing and outcome of regulatory review is uncertain, and BELVIQ may not be approved for marketing when expected or ever in combination with another drug, for another indication or using a different formulation or in any other territory for any indication; regulatory decisions in one territory may impact other regulatory decisions and our business prospects; government and commercial reimbursement and pricing decisions; risks related to relying on collaborative arrangements; the timing and receipt of payments and fees, if any, from collaborators; the entry into or modification or termination of collaborative arrangements; unexpected or unfavorable new data; nonclinical and clinical data is voluminous

and detailed, and regulatory agencies may interpret or weigh the importance of data differently and reach different conclusions than us or others, request additional information, have additional recommendations or change their guidance or requirements before or after approval; data and other information related to any of our research and development may not meet regulatory requirements or otherwise be sufficient for further research and development, regulatory review or approval or continued marketing; our ability to obtain and defend patents; the timing, success and cost of our research and development; results of clinical trials and other studies are subject to different interpretations and may not be predictive of future results; clinical trials and other studies may not proceed at the time or in the manner expected or at all; having adequate funds; and satisfactory resolution of litigation or other disagreements with others. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by our forward-looking statements are disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent our judgment as of the time of the filing of this Form 8-K. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as may be required under applicable law.

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: October 15, 2013   Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  By:  

 /s/ Steven W. Spector

    Steven W. Spector
    Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

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