2 Stocks That Could Soar Again in 2025

Core Insights - The biotech industry saw strong performance in 2024, particularly for Viking Therapeutics and Summit Therapeutics, with both companies' shares more than doubling due to significant clinical advancements [1] Group 1: Viking Therapeutics - Viking Therapeutics gained attention with promising phase 2 results for VK2735, a potential weight loss therapy, which is a dual GLP-1/GIP medicine [2] - The company plans to initiate phase 3 trials for VK2735 and VK2809, a treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which also showed strong phase 2 results [2][3] - The weight loss market is expected to grow significantly, and there is a high unmet need in the MASH therapy space, with Viking's progress outpacing larger competitors [3] - Viking Therapeutics is developing multiple weight loss options, including an oral version of VK2735 in phase 1 studies and a solid candidate in preclinical testing [4] - Although the company is not expected to launch a product or become profitable in 2025, its progress could attract investors and lead to strong stock performance [5] Group 2: Summit Therapeutics - Summit Therapeutics has a potential blockbuster drug, ivonescimab, which is already approved in China and has shown positive phase 3 results for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [6][7] - Ivonescimab outperformed Merck's Keytruda in clinical trials, which is significant as Keytruda is the best-selling drug globally [8] - The company is conducting phase 3 studies in the U.S. for ivonescimab, with fast track designation from the FDA, and plans to release top-line data in mid-2025 [9] - Summit Therapeutics will initiate additional phase 3 studies and continue trials in China, with expectations of solid clinical progress that could enhance stock performance in 2025 [10]