SAN DIEGO—Recently, Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced the formation of Beacon Discovery Inc., a drug discovery incubator that will focus on identifying and advancing molecules targeting G-protein coupled receptors (GCPRs) from concept to clinic. Beacon plans to engage global pharmaceutical partners to facilitate discovery and early-stage development. Arena will have certain rights to GCPR compounds developed by Beacon and will collaborate with Beacon in support of Arena’s proprietary pipeline programs as well as in a collaboration underway with Boehringer Ingelheim. Additionally, Arena will be entitled to certain rights to potential cash flows generated by Beacon in the future.

 

 “I believe the core clinical assets at Arena have the potential to be first or best in class and look forward to supporting the Arena team in optimizing the value of these clinical programs as chair of the scientific advisory board,” said Dr. Dominic P. Behan, Arena’s co-founder and Beacon’s CEO. “At the same time, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to launch Beacon and continue to build on Arena’s historical research platform.”