Arena Pharmaceuticals has begun a Phase II clinical trial of MK-0354, an orally administered drug candidate under development by Merck for the treatment of atherosclerosis and related disorders.

The trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that will further evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics, as well as potential efficacy, of MK-0354 in patients with dyslipidemia or abnormal concentrations of lipids or lipoproteins in the blood.