WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — Eisai Inc. has entered an agreement with Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. to acquire all global development and marketing rights for Belviq and Belviq XR (lorcaserin hydrochloride), a chronic weight management treatment.

Eisai said the agreement amends its November 2013 marketing and supply pact with  Arena Pharmaceuticals GmbH.

Under the deal announced this week, Eisai becomes solely responsible for all decision-making and implementation related to global development and submissions for regulatory approvals, as well as global marketing for lorcaserin. In addition, a technology transfer will take place to give Eisai the option to participate in the manufacture of lorcaserin.

Eisai will also assume Arena’s exclusive distribution agreements with third-parties to develop and market lorcaserin in South Korea, Taiwan and Israel.

Belviq was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2012 as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or greater (obese) or 27 kg/m² or greater (overweight), in the presence of at least one weight-related co-morbid condition. The product has been available to U.S. patients since June 2013.

Belviq XR (lorcaserin HCl extended-release 20-mg tablets) gained FDA approval in July 2016 and was released in the U.S. this past October.

“We would like to thank Eisai for its continued efforts on Belviq,” stated Amit Munshi, president and chief executive officer of San Diego-based Arena. “This amended agreement allows Arena to focus more of its financial resources on our clinical-stage programs, with a goal of developing first- or best-in-class assets with our three proprietary compounds, from which we expect results from multiple Phase 2 clinical trials later this year.”