Viking Therapeutics Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2024 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

Core Insights - Viking Therapeutics reported strong progress in its clinical pipeline, achieving positive data from multiple trials, including VK2735 for obesity and VK2809 for metabolic disorders [2][3][30] - The company ended 2024 with a robust cash position of $903 million, enabling it to pursue significant clinical goals [2][28] Clinical Pipeline Highlights - Viking's Phase 2 VENTURE study of VK2735 demonstrated statistically significant weight loss, with reductions up to 14.7% from baseline and 13.1% relative to placebo after 13 weeks [3][4] - The company plans to initiate Phase 3 studies for VK2735 in obesity in the second quarter of 2025 [5][6] - VK2809 completed its Phase 2b VOYAGE study, showing significant reductions in liver fat content and improvements in MASH resolution and fibrosis [11][13][16] Financial Performance - Research and development expenses for Q4 2024 were $31.0 million, up from $20.5 million in Q4 2023, primarily due to increased manufacturing and personnel costs [22] - General and administrative expenses rose to $15.3 million in Q4 2024 from $8.8 million in Q4 2023, driven by legal and professional fees [23] - The net loss for Q4 2024 was $35.4 million, or $0.32 per share, compared to a net loss of $24.6 million, or $0.25 per share, in Q4 2023 [24] Balance Sheet Overview - As of December 31, 2024, Viking held cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaling $903 million, a significant increase from $362 million at the end of 2023 [28] - The total liabilities were $28.0 million, with stockholders' equity amounting to $880.3 million [34]