Viking soars on positive early data in the obesity space

29 March 2023

US clinical-stage biopharma company Viking Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VKTX) saw its shares close up nearly 70% at $15.44 yesterday, after it released encouraging early-stage data on its obesity candidate VK2735.

The compound is a novel dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors in development for the potential treatment of various metabolic disorders. Based on these Phase I results, the company plans to initiate a Phase II study of VK2735 in patients with obesity in mid-2023.

Depending on the success of the drug in upcoming studies, Viking would compete in a potential $50 billion market for obesity treatment, with industry heavyweights such as Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NOV: N).

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free. A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Try before you buy

Free

7 day trial access

Take a Free Trial

All the news that moves the needle in pharma and biotech
Exclusive features, podcasts, interviews, data analyses and commentary from our global network of life sciences reporters.
Receive The Pharma Letter daily news bulletin, free forever.

Become a subscriber

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now

Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription

The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK