Arena Pharmaceuticals (ARNA) is a mid-size San Diego biotech company focused on G-coupled protein receptors (GPCR's). GPCR's are a class of receptor molecules that mediate the majority of cell to cell communication in the human body. These receptors are also drug targets of choice and estimates are that better than 50% of the drugs on the market today are aimed at GPCR's.

The company was founded in 1997 based on a novel idea called Constitutively Activated Receptor Technology or CART in conjunction with a readout agent called a melanophore. The CART technology enabled company scientists to measure receptor activity and changes to that activity caused by an experimental compound, without knowing the natural ligand of that receptor. Since the natural ligands for most GPCR's were unknown at the time, and a significant number still are, it opened the door for new discoveries. Such capabilities did not go unnoticed and the small company soon had big pharma partners, substantial amounts of cash and was able to go public a year and a half later….

For the full interview with Arena's CEO see the October 31st edition of Neurotech Insights