","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"http://g.foolcdn.com/avatar/1706180953/large.ashx","height":"80","width":"80"}},"about":[{"@type":"Corporation","tickerSymbol":"ARNA"},{"@type":"Corporation","tickerSymbol":"VVUS"},{"@type":"Corporation","tickerSymbol":"UNKNOWN"}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.fool.com/","name":"The Motley Fool","url":"https://www.fool.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://g.foolcdn.com/misc-assets/logo-tmf-primary-7-magenta-royalpurple.svg","width":"157","height":"43"},"brand":"The Motley Fool","contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"Media Inquiries","email":"[email protected]"},"publishingPrinciples":"https://www.fool.com/about/","sameAs":["https://www.fool.com/about/","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Motley_Fool","https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7752442","https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-motley-fool","https://www.facebook.com/themotleyfool/","https://x.com/themotleyfool","https://www.instagram.com/themotleyfoolofficial/","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpRQuynBX9Qy9tPrcswpPag","https://www.pinterest.com/themotleyfool/","https://www.tiktok.com/@themotleyfoolofficial","https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0578mk"]},"description":"With Belviq's US launch just around the corner, investors wonder if this drug will ever be marketed in Europe.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","height":"630","width":"1200"}}","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"http://g.foolcdn.com/avatar/1706180953/large.ashx","height":"80","width":"80"}},"inLanguage":"en-US"}

Why Arena Got Crushed Today

With Belviq's US launch just around the corner, investors wonder if this drug will ever be marketed in Europe.

By Max Macaluso and Brenton Flynn – Jan 22, 2013 at 5:07PM EST

Shares of drugmaker Arena Pharmaceuticals (ARNA +0.00%) took a 10% hit in intraday trading after the company reported that Europe's CHMP has asked for more information regarding its obesity drug Belviq. While Arena will have a chance to respond to the committee before an official decision is made, it looks like Belviq's chances for EU approval are deteriorating fast. Investors should also note that Arena's chief rival, VIVUS (VVUS +0.00%), was dealt an EU rejection for its drug Qsymia back in September.

In this video, health care analysts Max Macaluso and Brenton Flynn discuss this news in the context of the competitive obesity drug space, and they reflect on the challenges that obesity drugmakers -- including Orexigen Therapeutics (NASDAQ: OREX) -- face in getting their drugs approved across the Atlantic.

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About the Author

Max is the Technology, Biopharma & Health Care Bureau Chief at Fool.com. Prior to joining the Fool, he completed a PhD in chemistry at the University of Cambridge and an MBA at the College des Ingenieurs. Follow @TMFMassimo

TMFMassimo