Drug maker Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Wednesday it expects to begin a late-stage clinical trial for it obesity treatment in the second half of the year after getting back favorable toxicology data.

The company said that preclinical toxicology studies showed that the drug, known as APD356, did not have an effect on heart valves or blood vessels in the lungs. Arena expects to release results of a mid-stage clinical trial for the drug in June.

Also, Arena said that the Food and Drug Administration wants the company to clear up some non-clinical issues for its insomnia drug candidate called APD125. The company hopes to meet the agency's request based on current data. If current data can be used, Arena expects to begin a mid-stage clinical trial by midyear.

If additional data is required, the company expects to start the mid-stage clinical trial in the fourth quarter. Either way, Arena plans to submit a marketing application to the FDA in 2009.

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