The mid-cap biotech could become a notable player in the industry's hottest therapeutic area.Novo Nordisk (NVO +3.51%), a Denmark-based drugmaker, is currently a leader in the rapidly growing weight loss market. The company's Wegovy has practically become a household name, and it has plenty more pipeline candidates in the works.However, this area is attracting many more challengers looking to capitalize on its fast expansion. One of them is Viking Therapeutics (VKTX +2.34%), a mid-cap biotech. This smaller ...

Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation SAN DIEGO, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Viking Therapeutics, Inc. ("Viking") (NASDAQ: VKTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders, today announced that it will participate at the Piper Sandler 37 Annual Healthcare Conference. The conference will take place December 2-4, 2025, in New York, New York. Details are as follows: Piper Sandler 37 Annual Healthcare ConferenceDetails: Vik ...

Corporate Presentation November 2025 Forward-Looking Statements This presentation contains statements about our future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including risks relating to: both our and our collaborators' ability to successf ...

Company Overview - Viking Therapeutics is a San Diego-based company focused on metabolic and endocrine disorders with approximately 55 employees [3]. Clinical Programs - The company is developing VK2735, a GLP-1/GIP dual agonist for obesity, which is currently in a Phase III program known as the VANQUISH program [3]. - An oral formulation of VK2735 has recently completed a Phase II study, with data to be discussed in the presentation [3]. - An amylin agonist is approaching the clinic, with an IND filing expected in the first quarter [4]. - Additional programs include VK2809, which has completed a Phase IIb study in MASH, and VK0214, which has gone through a Phase Ib study in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy; however, these programs are not actively being developed [4].

Viking Therapeutics Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Viking Therapeutics (NasdaqCM: VKTX) - **Focus**: Metabolic and endocrine disorders - **Location**: San Diego, California - **Employees**: Approximately 55 Key Programs and Developments - **VK2735**: A GLP-1 GIP dual agonist for obesity - Currently in Phase III program called the VANQUISH program [4][35] - Oral formulation recently completed Phase II study [4][35] - **Amylin Agonist**: Expected to file an IND in the first quarter of 2026 [5][36] - **VK2809**: A thyroid receptor beta agonist that has completed a Phase IIb study in NASH [5] - **VK0214**: Another thyroid receptor beta agonist that has completed a Phase Ib study in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy [5] Clinical Data and Efficacy - **VK2735 Oral Formulation**: - Phase II study showed up to 12.2% body weight reduction after 13 weeks of dosing [20][29] - Weight loss maintained for four weeks after the last dose [10][20] - Excellent tolerability with most adverse events classified as mild to moderate [21][29] - **VK2735 SubQ Formulation**: - Phase II study showed weight loss of 9% to 15% from baseline after 13 weeks [25][30] - Durable weight loss observed 21 days after the last dose [23][30] - Excellent tolerability with 98% of adverse events classified as mild to moderate [24][30] Pipeline and Future Studies - **VANQUISH Phase III Studies**: - VANQUISH I: Completed enrollment, focusing on obesity [30][35] - VANQUISH II: Expected to complete enrollment in the first quarter of next year [30][35] - **Maintenance Study**: Ongoing with a focus on transitioning from weekly to monthly dosing [33][34] Financial Overview - **Cash Position**: Over $700 million as of the third quarter, expected to fund through the VANQUISH Phase III data readouts [34][35] Additional Insights - The company is prioritizing mid-range doses for the oral formulation based on pharmacokinetics and gastrointestinal tolerability [37] - The potential for transitioning from SubQ to oral dosing to maintain weight loss is being explored [37] This summary encapsulates the key points from the Viking Therapeutics conference call, highlighting the company's focus on metabolic disorders, clinical program advancements, and financial health.

Core Insights - Viking Therapeutics has completed patient enrollment ahead of schedule for its Phase 3 VANQUISH-1 clinical trial of VK2735, indicating strong interest in new obesity treatments [1][3] - The trial enrolled approximately 4,650 adults with obesity or overweight conditions, assessing the efficacy and safety of VK2735 over 78 weeks [2] - Positive results from the Phase 2 VENTURE study of VK2735 showed significant weight reduction and favorable safety profiles [4] Company Overview - Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders, with VK2735 being a dual agonist of GLP-1 and GIP receptors [1][6] - The company is also developing VK2809 for lipid and metabolic disorders and VK0214 for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy [7] Clinical Trials - The Phase 3 VANQUISH-1 study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with four treatment arms, focusing on weight change from baseline as the primary endpoint [2] - A 52-week extension period is included for participants to continue treatment after the primary dosing period [2] - Concurrently, the Phase 3 VANQUISH-2 study is enrolling patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity, expected to complete enrollment in Q1 2026 [3] Mechanism of Action - VK2735 acts on GLP-1 and GIP receptors, which are known to decrease glucose levels, reduce appetite, and improve insulin sensitivity [5] - The dual agonist approach aims to enhance therapeutic benefits compared to existing treatments [5]

Core Insights - Viking Therapeutics announced new clinical data from the VK2735 obesity program, showing improvements in cardiometabolic parameters after 13 weeks of treatment, including reductions in prediabetes and metabolic syndrome prevalence [1][5]. Clinical Trial Results - In the Phase 2 VENTURE clinical trial, 78% of VK2735-treated patients who were prediabetic at baseline achieved normal glycemic status by Week 13, compared to 29% in the placebo group (p=0.0008) [2]. - Among patients with metabolic syndrome at baseline, 68% of those treated with VK2735 no longer met the criteria for the syndrome at Week 13, versus 38% for placebo (p=0.02) [3]. Weight Loss and Safety - VK2735 treatment resulted in statistically significant mean body weight reductions of up to 14.7% from baseline after 13 weeks, with 88% of VK2735 patients achieving at least 10% weight loss compared to 4% for placebo [6]. - The treatment demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with 92% of treatment-emergent adverse events classified as mild or moderate [7]. Future Studies - Viking is conducting a Phase 3 study (VANQUISH-1) to evaluate VK2735's effects on body weight and other health parameters in patients with obesity or overweight and related comorbidities [5][9].

Core Insights - Viking Therapeutics reported strong progress in its clinical pipeline, particularly with VK2735, which has shown promising results in obesity treatment [2][3][6] - The company announced a net loss of $90.8 million for Q3 2025, significantly higher than the $24.9 million loss in Q3 2024, primarily due to increased research and development expenses [11][14] - Viking's cash position remains robust at $715 million, providing sufficient resources for ongoing clinical trials and development programs [15] Clinical Pipeline Updates - VK2735, a dual agonist targeting GLP-1 and GIP receptors, achieved significant weight loss results in the Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral Dosing study, with reductions of up to 12.2% from baseline [2][6] - The Phase 3 VANQUISH trials for VK2735 are on schedule, with enrollment expected to complete by the end of 2025 for VANQUISH-1 and in Q1 2026 for VANQUISH-2 [3][5] - Viking is also advancing an oral formulation of VK2735, which has shown encouraging safety and efficacy in early studies, and plans to file an IND for its amylin agonist program in Q1 2026 [6][9][12] Financial Performance - Research and development expenses for Q3 2025 were $90 million, up from $22.8 million in Q3 2024, reflecting increased clinical study costs and regulatory services [8][12] - General and administrative expenses decreased to $8.6 million in Q3 2025 from $13.8 million in Q3 2024, mainly due to reduced legal and patent service costs [10] - For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, total operating expenses reached $228.6 million, compared to $104.7 million for the same period in 2024 [21] Upcoming Events and Presentations - Viking plans to present at several upcoming scientific conferences, including ObesityWeek and the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, to discuss its clinical programs and findings [9][18] - The company will host a conference call to discuss its Q3 2025 financial results, providing further insights into its operations and future plans [16]

Core Insights - Investors are showing a bullish stance on Viking Therapeutics, with significant options activity indicating potential upcoming developments [1][2] - The overall sentiment among large traders is split, with 50% bullish and 25% bearish positions noted [2] - Major market movers are focusing on a price range between $25.0 and $60.0 for Viking Therapeutics over the last three months [3] Options Activity - A total of 12 options trades were detected, with 11 being calls amounting to $1,067,687 and only 1 put totaling $41,820 [2] - The mean open interest for options trades today is 1,909, with a total volume of 3,526 [4] - Significant trades include bullish call options with strike prices at $60.00 and $25.00, with total trade prices of $260.2K and $141.5K respectively [9][10] Company Overview - Viking Therapeutics specializes in biopharmaceutical development focused on metabolic and endocrine disorders, with a pipeline that includes VK2809, VK5211, and VK0214 [11] - The company is currently trading at $30.99, down by 6.03%, with a trading volume of 2,560,725 [16] - Analysts have proposed an average target price of $102.0 for Viking Therapeutics, indicating potential upside [13][14]

Core Viewpoint - Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) is expected to report a loss of 70 cents per share for Q3 2025, with no revenues anticipated due to the absence of marketed drugs in its portfolio [2][5]. Financial Performance - The company's earnings have consistently missed estimates, with a negative average surprise of 15.65% over the past four quarters, including a 31.82% miss in the last reported quarter [3][4]. - Loss estimates for 2025 have increased from $2.39 to $2.45 per share in the last 60 days, indicating ongoing operational challenges [2][5]. Pipeline Updates - The upcoming investor call is expected to focus on updates regarding three key candidates: VK2735 for obesity, VK2809 for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and VK0214 for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) [7]. - VKTX has initiated a late-stage program for VK2735, which includes two phase III studies (VANQUISH-1 and VANQUISH-2) targeting different obesity patient groups [8]. - Investors are looking for updates on the oral version of VK2735, which showed mixed results in a mid-stage study, particularly concerning patient dropout rates due to adverse effects [9]. Competitive Landscape - VKTX is facing intense competition in the obesity treatment market from established players like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, which are advancing their own oral treatments [18][19]. - The company is exploring partnership opportunities to support the clinical development of its NASH and X-ALD programs due to limited resources [19]. Stock Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, VKTX's stock has declined nearly 14%, underperforming both the industry and the broader market [12]. - The stock is trading at a premium valuation, with a price/book ratio of 4.91 compared to the industry average of 3.41, indicating a higher valuation relative to its peers [15]. Financial Position - VKTX maintains a strong financial position with $808 million in cash and no outstanding debt, providing sufficient liquidity for ongoing operations and research and development [17].