Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

SAN DIEGO, March 4, 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 the company will participate at multiple upcoming investor conferences. Details of the company's participation are as follows: Leerink Partners Global Healthcare Conference 2025 Details: Viking management will participate in a fireside chat and in 1-on-1 meetings Conference Date: March 10-12, 2025 Fireside Chat Timing: 9:20 – 9:50 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Location: Miami, FL Jefferies Biotech on the Beach Summit Details: Viking management will participate in 1-on-1 meetings Conference Dates: March 11-12, 2025 Location: Miami, FL A live webcast of the Leerink presentation may be accessed via a link on the Viking Therapeutics website in the Investors & Media section under Webcasts. Additionally, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Viking website following the conference. About Viking Therapeutics, Inc. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel first-in-class or best-in-class therapies for the treatment of metabolic and endocrine disorders, with three compounds currently in clinical trials. Viking's research and development activities leverage its expertise in metabolism to develop innovative therapeutics designed to improve patients' lives. Viking's clinical programs include VK2735, a novel dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors for the potential treatment of various metabolic disorders. Data from a Phase 1 and a Phase 2 trial evaluating VK2735 (dosed subcutaneously) for metabolic disorders demonstrated an encouraging safety and tolerability profile as well as positive signs of clinical benefit. Concurrently, the company is evaluating an oral formulation of VK2735 in a Phase 1 trial. Viking is also developing VK2809, a novel, orally available, small molecule selective thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist for the treatment of lipid and metabolic disorders. The compound successfully achieved both the primary and secondary endpoints in a recently completed Phase 2b study for the treatment of biopsy-confirmed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis. In a Phase 2a trial for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and elevated LDL-C, patients who received VK2809 demonstrated statistically significant reductions in LDL-C and liver fat content compared with patients who received placebo. The company's newest program is evaluating a series of internally developed dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonists (or DACRAs) for the treatment of obesity and other metabolic disorders. In the rare disease space, Viking is developing VK0214, a novel, orally available, small molecule selective thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist for the potential treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). In a Phase 1b clinical trial in patients with the adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) form of X-ALD, VK0214 was shown to be safe and well-tolerated, while driving significant reductions in plasma levels of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and other lipids, as compared to placebo. For more information about Viking Therapeutics, please visit . SOURCE Viking Therapeutics, Inc. WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

Eli Lilly is buying Organovo’s farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist program, which includes a drug in Phase 2 development for ulcerative colitis and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), the biotech said Tuesday . The drugmaker will pay $9 million upfront plus $1 million in 15 months and up to $50 million in milestones, according to an SEC filing . Lilly is obtaining all worldwide rights to the program. Organovo’s share price $ONVO nearly tripled in early trading on Tuesday. The deal is remarkable because Intercept Pharmaceuticals’ attempts to pursue this mechanism in MASH ended in grave disappointment. The FDA rejected the company’s treatment, called Ocaliva, for the fatty liver disease — which used to be called NASH — in 2020 . A subsequent Phase 3 trial failed too . Since then, FXR agonism has been superseded as a MASH approach by other mechanisms like thyroid hormone receptor beta agonism (used by Madrigal’s approved Rezdiffra and Viking Therapeutics’ experimental VK2809, among others) and FGF21 agonism (used by assets which include Akero’s efruxifermin and 89bio’s pegozafermin). That said, it’s not clear that Lilly intends to pursue Organovo’s asset, called FXR314, in MASH. The only indication mentioned in Organovo’s statement is inflammatory bowel disease, and Lilly has not commented. However, Organovo has trialed the drug in the disorder. The company presented Phase 2 data in November that showed statistically significant reductions versus placebo in liver fat, a commonly used biomarker in early MASH trials. According to its website , it was actively seeking a partner for this indication.

Welcome to Endpoints News’ manufacturing briefs, where we bring you essential news on new builds, collaborations, recalls and more. AstraZeneca said it is “very disappointed” in the UK government’s decision to cut its contribution to the pharma company’s site expansion in Speke, UK, CEO Pascal Soriot said during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings Thursday. “It was not possible for the government to justify it, which we don’t really understand. But you know, that’s business life,” he added. However, he also noted there’s no tension between AstraZeneca and the UK government. Nonetheless, the big pharma cut its investment pledge in the UK to £90 million from £150 million this week, after it also pulled out of its planned expansion for the Speke factory last month. Viking Therapeutics said it has “enough” supply of APIs for its two upcoming late-stage studies, CEO Brian Lian said during its Q4 earnings call Wednesday. Viking has a GLP-1/GIP agonist, dubbed VK2735, being investigated for weight loss, and a thyroid receptor β agonist, called VK2809, for NASH that are about to enter Phase 3 trials. As for its commercial-scale manufacturing needs, Lian said Viking is still working on a “set of agreements.” At the JP Morgan confab last month, the company said it was working “really hard” to secure a long-term manufacturing contract that includes fill-finish for VK2735 and other assets. Jabil has acquired CDMO Pharmaceutics International , the companies said Tuesday. This will add commercial production services for auto-injectors, pen injectors, inhalers and on-body pumps to Jabil’s offerings. CDMO Recipharm has implemented a new so-called modular filing line at its factory in Wasserburg, Germany, which can make a variety of products like syringes and vials, the company said Wednesday . Uniphar has launched three new factories to expand its global footprint, located in Raleigh, NC, Lelystad, Netherlands, and Dublin, Ireland, the company said Monday. Uniphar is a pharma consultant and medical device distributor. Three companies have joined forces to develop an RNA vaccine platform. Africa-based EVA Pharma, French company DNA Script and Belgium-headquartered Quantoom Biosciences signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the collaboration, according to a Wednesday release. Oman’s Ministry of Health signed purchase agreements with six Oman pharmaceutical manufacturers: Philex Pharmaceuticals, Menagene Pharmaceuticals, Opal Bio Pharma, Dhofar Pharma, Izz Pharma and Health Supplies Factory. The agreements will help local production of medicines in Oman.