Viking's oral weight loss drug shows strong effects in Phase 1 trial

SAN ANTONIO — Viking Therapeutics recently showcased promising results for its oral anti-obesity medication, revealing a placebo-adjusted weight loss of 6.8% after four weeks. These findings place the biotech firm among the leading developers in the crowded obesity drug market. The data were presented at the ObesityWeek conference in Texas, drawing considerable attention from attendees eager to evaluate the progress of Viking’s drug.

The Phase 1 trial involved 92 participants, and while comparisons to other studies are difficult, the 6.8% weight reduction stands out. Analysts from Cantor Fitzgerald noted that other oral obesity drugs have generally shown 3-6% placebo-adjusted weight loss over four weeks. Viking’s drug, VK2735, functions as a GLP-1/GIP dual agonist. Lesser reductions in weight were observed with smaller doses when compared to placebo.

Most adverse events were mild or moderate, accounting for 99% of cases in the Phase 1 study. Four participants taking Viking’s medication discontinued early, as did two participants on placebo. The biotech company is seen as a potential acquisition target in the competitive obesity drug market, a speculation that these results will likely fuel further.

The competition remains stiff, with major pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Roche, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca also developing oral obesity treatments. Viking’s CEO, Brian Lian, has mentioned that the company is in discussions with manufacturers and anticipates being able to supply a "blockbuster-sized product" when the time is right.

The San Diego-based biotech firm plans to initiate a 13-week Phase 2 study of the oral VK2735 this quarter. Additionally, more data were presented from the Phase 2 VENTURE trial of the injectable version of VK2735, the most advanced form of the drug. After 13 weeks, patients receiving the highest dose of the injectable formulation experienced a mean weight loss of 14.7% or 13.1% adjusted for placebo. The placebo-adjusted weight loss rates for other groups were 11.3% for the 10 mg dose, 9.2% for the 5 mg dose, and 7.4% for the 2.5 mg dose.

Previous positive results from the injectable trial, announced in February, significantly boosted Viking’s share prices by over 90%. Initially, Viking anticipated needing a Phase 2b trial before progressing, but by July, the company decided to advance directly to Phase 3, accelerating their timeline for a potential commercial launch.

In the upcoming Phase 3 trial, analysts from Leerink Partners noted that Viking does not intend to conduct a head-to-head comparison of VK2735 against other active treatments such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy or Lilly’s Zepbound. Viking is also working on developing an autoinjector version for the study. However, it may need to start with vials or syringes until the new formulation becomes available.

The results presented at ObesityWeek signal a significant advancement for Viking Therapeutics in the development of effective obesity treatments, positioning the company as a strong contender in a highly competitive field. With plans to move forward swiftly into Phase 3 trials, the biotech firm is poised to make substantial strides towards bringing their innovative treatment to market.