<?xml version="1.0"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="..\4_X02.xsl"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType>    <periodOfReport>2004-07-07</periodOfReport>    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>    <issuer>        <issuerCik>0001080709</issuerCik>        <issuerName>ARENA PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARNA</issuerTradingSymbol>    </issuer>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0001055947</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>BVF PARTNERS L P/IL</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>227 WEST MONROE STREET, SUITE 4800</rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>        </reportingOwnerAddress>        <reportingOwnerRelationship>            <isDirector>0</isDirector>            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>            <isOther>1</isOther>            <otherText>Indirect Beneficial Owner</otherText>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0000918923</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND L P</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>227 W MONROE STREET, SUITE 4800</rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>        </reportingOwnerAddress>        <reportingOwnerRelationship>            <isDirector>0</isDirector>            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>            <isOther>1</isOther>            <otherText>Direct Beneficial Owner</otherText>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0001102444</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND II LP</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>227 WEST MONROE STREET, SUITE 4800</rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>        </reportingOwnerAddress>        <reportingOwnerRelationship>            <isDirector>0</isDirector>            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>            <isOther>1</isOther>            <otherText>Direct Beneficial Owner</otherText>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0001132245</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>BVF INVESTMENTS LLC</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>227 WEST MONROE STREET, SUITE 4800</rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>        </reportingOwnerAddress>        <reportingOwnerRelationship>            <isDirector>0</isDirector>            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>            <isOther>1</isOther>            <otherText>Direct Beneficial Owner</otherText>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0001056807</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>BVF INC/IL</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE SANSOME STREET, 31ST FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>94104</rptOwnerZipCode>            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>        </reportingOwnerAddress>        <reportingOwnerRelationship>            <isDirector>0</isDirector>            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>            <isOther>1</isOther>            <otherText>Indirect Beneficial Owner</otherText>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <nonDerivativeTable>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2004-07-07</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>232500</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>5.10</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>584977</value>                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>See footnotes</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2004-07-07</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>147000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>5.10</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>379884</value>                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>See footnotes</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2004-07-07</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>356500</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>5.10</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>1038851</value>                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>See footnotes</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2004-07-07</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>8288</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>5.2031</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>576689</value>                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>See footnotes</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2004-07-07</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>5000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>5.2031</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>374884</value>                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>See footnotes</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2004-07-07</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>12000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>5.2031</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>1026851</value>                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>See footnotes</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2004-07-08</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>21800</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>5.00</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>554889</value>                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>See footnotes</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2004-07-08</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>13000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>5.00</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>361884</value>                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>See footnotes</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2004-07-08</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>32000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>5.00</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>994851</value>                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>I</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>                <natureOfOwnership>                    <value>See footnotes</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>                </natureOfOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>    </nonDerivativeTable>    <footnotes>        <footnote id="F1">The shares reported in this response are beneficially owned by Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P., a Delaware limitedpartnership (&quot;BVF, L.P.&quot;) (554,889 shares ); Biotechnology Value Fund II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership(&quot;BVF2, L.P.&quot;) (361,884 shares); BVF Investments, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;Investments&quot;)(994,851 shares); and by BVF Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;Partners&quot;), and by its generalpartner BVF Inc., a Delaware corporation (&quot;BVF Inc.&quot;), which is also an investment advisor to Partners. Partnersis the general partner of BVF, L.P. and BVF2, L.P. and is the manager of Investments. Pursuant to the operatingagreement of Investment Partners is authorized, among other things, to invest the funds of Ziff Asset Management,L.P., the majority member of Investments, in the shares of common stock described herein as being beneficiallyowned by Investments.</footnote>        <footnote id="F2">Mark N. Lampert is the sole shareholder and sole director of BVF Inc., and is an officer of BVF Inc. This jointfiling on Form 4 shall not be deemed an admission that Mark N. Lampert is, for purposes of Section 16 of theSecurities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise, the beneficial owner of any equity securitiescovered by this joint filing. Mr. Lampert disclaims beneficial ownership of shares reported in this response,except to the extent that he has a pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>        <footnote id="F3">Shares beneficailly owned by BVF, L.P.</footnote>        <footnote id="F4">Shares beneficailly owned by BVF2, L.P.</footnote>        <footnote id="F5">Shares beneficailly owned by Investments</footnote>    </footnotes>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>By: /s/ BVF Partners L.P., By: BVF Inc., its GP, By: /s/ Mark N. Lampert</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2004-07-09</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>By: /s/ BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, L.P. By BVF Partners L.P., its GP, By: BVF Inc., By: /s/ Mark N. Lampert</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2004-07-09</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>By: /s/ BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND II, L.P. By BVF Partners L.P., its GP, By: BVF Inc., By: /s/ Mark N. Lampert</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2004-07-09</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>By: /s/ BVF INVESTMENTS, L.L.C, By: BVF Partners L.P., its Manager, By: BVF Inc., By: /s/ Mark N. Lampert</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2004-07-09</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>By: /s/ BVF INC., By: /s/ Mark N. Lampert</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2004-07-09</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>