Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company is engaged in the development of drug candidates that target conditions such as obesity, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and other metabolic disorders. Viking Therapeutics does not currently sell any products as it has not generated revenue yet.
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VK2735 - Develops a dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors for potential treatment of metabolic disorders like obesity.
- Subcutaneous Formulation - Completed Phase 1 trials and is undergoing Phase 2 trials for weight loss efficacy.
- Oral Formulation - Completed Phase 1 trials with dose-dependent weight loss results; Phase 2 trials initiated.
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VK2809 - Develops an orally available, tissue and receptor-subtype selective agonist of the thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRβ) for treating NASH and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
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VK0214 - Focuses on the development of therapies for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD).
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DACRAs (Dual Amylin and Calcitonin Receptor Agonists) - Targets various metabolic disorders.
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| Name | Position | External Roles | Short Bio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Brian Lian ExecutiveBoard | President and Chief Executive Officer | Board of Directors, Seelos Therapeutics, Inc. since January 2019 | Brian Lian, Ph.D. has led Viking Therapeutics as President and Chief Executive Officer since September 2012 and has served on its Board of Directors since inception. | View Report → |
Greg Zante Executive | Chief Financial Officer | Greg Zante is the Chief Financial Officer at Viking Therapeutics since January 2021, having previously served as Senior Vice President of Finance (August 2019 to January 2021) and Vice President, Finance & Operations (December 2016 to July 2019). | ||
Marianne Mancini Executive | Chief Operating Officer | Marianne Mancini is the Chief Operating Officer at Viking Therapeutics, Inc., promoted effective January 4, 2021. She has been key in advancing the company’s pipeline programs and strategic direction. | ||
Charles A. Rowland Board | Member of the Board of Directors and Compensation Committee Chair | Generation Bio Co.: Board Member and Audit Committee Chair; Nabriva Therapeutics, AG: Board Member and Compensation Committee Chair | Charles A. Rowland, Jr., MBA has served on the board at VKTX since July 2017 where he chairs the Compensation Committee, leveraging his financial expertise in the life sciences industry. He also holds active board roles at Generation Bio Co. and Nabriva Therapeutics, AG, contributing his extensive industry experience. | |
J. Matthew Singleton Board | Member of the Board of Directors (Class II Director) | J. Matthew Singleton has served on the Board of Directors of Viking Therapeutics since May 2014, and he currently serves as the Audit Committee Chairperson as well as a Compensation Committee member. | ||
Lawson Macartney Board | Chairperson of the Board | Board Member of Dechra PLC; Supervisory Board Member of the Netherlands Translational Research Centre | Lawson Macartney, DVM, Ph.D., has served as the Chairperson of the Board at Viking Therapeutics since May 2015 and as a Board Member since May 2014. He has extensive leadership experience in the pharmaceutical sector and currently holds active board positions in other companies. | |
Matthew W. Foehr Board | Member of the Board of Directors | President and CEO of OmniAb, Inc. | Matthew W. Foehr has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and has served as a member of the Board of Directors at VKTX since May 2014. He has also held executive roles outside of VKTX, including serving as President and CEO of OmniAb, Inc. since March 2022. | |
S. Kathy Rouan Board | Member of the Board of Directors | Non-Executive Board Member at Code Biotherapeutics, Inc. | S. Kathy Rouan, Ph.D., has served as a board member at VKTX since July 2019 and currently chairs the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (since at least 2022). |
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Given the challenges in scaling peptide API manufacturing for VK2735, how confident are you in securing sufficient supply for Phase III trials and potential commercialization, and can you provide an update on the status of your manufacturing agreements and why they are taking longer than expected to finalize?
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With the initiation of the Phase III obesity study for VK2735 narrowed to Q2 2025, can you discuss the remaining steps required to get the study underway, including any potential hurdles in production of clinical material or site initiation that could impact timelines?
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As you plan to test monthly subcutaneous dosing and consider transitioning patients from weekly injections to monthly dosing or a low-dose oral formulation, how do you intend to address potential weight regain during this transition, and will this approach be included in your initial NDA submission?
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Regarding your VK2809 program for NASH, given the complexities of Phase III trials requiring biopsies and the competitive landscape, what is your current strategy for advancing this program, and how are partnering discussions progressing to ensure a positive return on investment?
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In the selection of your amylin program candidate, can you elaborate on the key characteristics you're considering, particularly in terms of balancing amylin and calcitonin receptor activity, and how this differentiates your compounds from competitors in efficacy and tolerability?
Research analysts who have asked questions during Viking Therapeutics earnings calls.
Annabel Samimy
Stifel Financial Corp.
4 questions for VKTX
Hardik Parikh
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
4 questions for VKTX
Jay Olson
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
4 questions for VKTX
Yale Jen
Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.
4 questions for VKTX
Biren Amin
Piper Sandler Companies
3 questions for VKTX
Justin Zelin
BTIG, LLC
3 questions for VKTX
Mayank Mamtani
B. Riley Securities
3 questions for VKTX
Michael Ulz
Morgan Stanley
3 questions for VKTX
Ryan Deschner
Raymond James Financial
3 questions for VKTX
Asim Rana
Truist Securities
2 questions for VKTX
George Farmer
Scotiabank
2 questions for VKTX
Jiale Song
Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
2 questions for VKTX
Joon Lee
Truist Securities
2 questions for VKTX
Thomas Smith
Leerink Partners
2 questions for VKTX
Tsan-Yu Hsieh
William Blair & Company
2 questions for VKTX
Alexandra Ramsey
William Blair & Company, L.L.C.
1 question for VKTX
Andy Hsieh
William Blair & Company
1 question for VKTX
Fiona Gia
Jefferies
1 question for VKTX
Jeet Mukherjee
Leerink Partners
1 question for VKTX
Nat Charoensook
Leerink Partners
1 question for VKTX
Roger Song
Jefferies
1 question for VKTX
Steven Seedhouse
Raymond James
1 question for VKTX
Steve Seedhouse
Cantor Fitzgerald
1 question for VKTX
Competitors mentioned in the company's latest 10K filing.
| Company | Description |
|---|---|
Therapies from this company, including Semaglutide (Wegovy®) and liraglutide (Saxenda®), are already approved and marketed for obesity. Additionally, CagriSema is in late development targeting obesity. Semaglutide is also mentioned as a development-stage program targeting NASH/MASH. | |
This company markets tirzepatide (Zepbound™) for obesity and has late-stage development programs including orforglipron and retatrutide targeting obesity. Tirzepatide is also mentioned as a development-stage program targeting NASH/MASH. | |
Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH | Survodutide (BI 456906) from this company is in late-stage development targeting obesity and NASH/MASH. |
This company has active programs targeting obesity and NASH/MASH, including pemvidutide (ALT-801). | |
Active programs targeting obesity are mentioned for this company. | |
Ascletis Pharma Inc. | Active programs targeting obesity and NASH/MASH are mentioned for this company. |
Active programs targeting obesity and NASH/MASH are mentioned for this company. | |
This company has active programs targeting obesity and NASH/MASH, including ervogastat (PF-06865571) and clesacostat (PF-05221304). | |
Active programs targeting obesity and NASH/MASH are mentioned for this company. | |
Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | This company has active programs targeting obesity and NASH/MASH, including efocipegtrutide (HM15211). |
Resmetirom (Rezdiffra™), an agonist of the thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRß), is the only therapy currently approved in the U.S. for the treatment of NASH/MASH. | |
Arachidyl amido cholanoic acid from this company is in development targeting NASH/MASH. | |
Belapectin from this company is in development targeting NASH/MASH. | |
Inventiva S.A. | Lanifibranor from this company is in development targeting NASH/MASH. |
Firsocostat (GS-0976) and cilofexor (GS-9674) from this company are in development targeting NASH/MASH. | |
Efruxifermin (AKR-001) from this company is in development targeting NASH/MASH. | |
Pegozafermin (BIO89-100) from this company is in development targeting NASH/MASH. | |
Denifanstat (TVB-2640) from this company is in development targeting NASH/MASH. | |
ION224 and ION839 from this company are in development targeting NASH/MASH. | |
Rencofilstat (CRV431) from this company is in development targeting NASH/MASH. | |
HighTide Therapeutics Inc. | HTD1801 from this company is in development targeting NASH/MASH. |
GSK4532990 (ARO-HSD) from this company is in development targeting NASH/MASH. | |
ALN-HSD from this company is in development targeting NASH/MASH. | |
Efinopegdutide (MK-6024) from this company is in development targeting NASH/MASH. | |
Minoryx Therapeutics S.L. | This company has experimental therapies in clinical development for X-ALD, which may compete with VK0214. |
Neuraxpharm Group | This company has experimental therapies in clinical development for X-ALD, which may compete with VK0214. |
Poxel SA | This company has experimental therapies in clinical development for X-ALD, which may compete with VK0214. |
Spur Therapeutics, Inc. | This company has experimental therapies in clinical development for X-ALD, which may compete with VK0214. |
This company has experimental therapies in clinical development for conditions characterized by muscle wasting, which may compete with VK5211. | |
Helsinn Group | This company has experimental therapies in clinical development for conditions characterized by muscle wasting, which may compete with VK5211. |
Recent press releases and 8-K filings for VKTX.
- Viking Therapeutics' lead program, VK2735, a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist for obesity, has its subcutaneous formulation in Phase 3 trials (Vanquish program).
- The oral formulation of VK2735 recently completed a successful Phase 2 study, demonstrating up to 12% reduction in body weight after 13 weeks and a promising tolerability profile.
- The company plans an end-of-phase 2 FDA meeting in Q4 to determine the path forward for the oral formulation.
- Viking Therapeutics ended Q2 with over $800 million in cash, which is expected to fund the Phase 3 trials.
- Viking Therapeutics' lead program, VK2735, a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist, is in Phase 3 for obesity with its subcutaneous formulation, and its oral formulation recently completed a successful Phase 2 study, demonstrating up to 12% weight reduction after 13 weeks.
- The company plans an end-of-phase 2 FDA meeting in Q4 2025 for the oral VK2735 and will initiate a subcutaneous-to-oral maintenance study late Q3 2025 or early Q4 2025.
- Viking Therapeutics ended Q2 2025 with over $800 million in cash, providing the financial runway to complete its Phase 3 trials.
- The company is also advancing an amylin agonist program, with plans to move it into the clinic late 2025 or early 2026, aiming to potentially offer enhanced weight loss efficacy.
- Viking Therapeutics' lead program, VK2735, a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist for obesity, is currently in Phase 3 for its subcutaneous formulation and has successfully completed a Phase 2 study for its oral formulation.
- The Phase 2 study for oral VK2735 demonstrated up to 12% reduction in body weight after 13 weeks, with a promising tolerability profile, and an end-of-phase 2 FDA meeting is planned for Q4 2025 to determine the path forward.
- The subcutaneous VK2735 formulation achieved approximately 15% weight loss after 13 weeks in its Phase 2 study and is now in two Phase 3 trials, Vanquish one (obese patients) and Vanquish two (patients with diabetes and obesity), which were initiated in Q2 2025.
- Viking Therapeutics ended Q2 2025 with over $800 million in cash, which is expected to provide the necessary runway to complete the Phase 3 trials.
- The company operates with a lean model and believes the evolving obesity market is well-suited for its competitive product profile and infrastructure.
- Viking Therapeutics is advancing its VK2735 molecule, a dual agonist of GLP-1 and GIP receptors, with a subcutaneous formulation in Phase 3 (Vanquish program) for obesity and an oral formulation that recently completed a successful Phase 2 study.
- The oral formulation of VK2735 demonstrated up to 12% body weight reduction after 13 weeks of dosing in its Phase 2 study, with promising tolerability.
- The company plans to initiate a subcutaneous to oral maintenance study for VK2735 late this quarter or early next quarter, and an end-of-phase 2 FDA meeting for the oral formulation is scheduled for Q4 to determine the path forward.
- Viking Therapeutics ended Q2 with over $800 million in cash, which is expected to provide the financial runway to complete its Phase 3 trials.
- Viking Therapeutics' lead program, VK2735, a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist, is advancing with both subcutaneous and oral formulations.
- The subcutaneous VK2735 is currently in Phase III trials (VANQUISH I and II) for obesity and obesity with diabetes, initiated in Q2 2025.
- The oral formulation of VK2735 successfully completed a Phase II study, achieving primary and secondary endpoints with up to 12% body weight reduction after thirteen weeks and a promising tolerability profile. An end-of-Phase II meeting with the FDA is planned for Q4 2025.
- The company reported over $800 million in cash at the end of Q2 2025, which is expected to fund the completion of its Phase III trials.
- Viking is also developing a novel amylin agonist, with plans to move it into the clinic late 2025 or early 2026.
- Viking Therapeutics' stock dropped 42% due to a high discontinuation rate in trials for its obesity pill, placing it two to three years behind larger, well-capitalized competitors.
- Despite this significant setback, an analyst believes Viking has invested too much to quit and may pursue a lower-dose oral pill as a maintenance therapy.
- A takeover of Viking Therapeutics is doubted at this stage, as an acquiring company would likely face negative repercussions unless a low-dose oral pill with less than 10% weight loss is considered a major product.
- Oral obesity pills generally exhibit a worse adverse event profile compared to injectables, and lower dosages may lead to reduced efficacy.
- Viking Therapeutics reported a net loss of $65.6 million or $0.58 per share for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, and a net loss of $111.2 million or $0.99 per share for the first six months of 2025.
- Research and development expenses increased to $60.2 million for Q2 2025 and $101.5 million for the first six months of 2025, primarily due to increased expenses related to clinical studies and manufacturing. The company expects R&D expenses to increase by 25% to 33% in Q3 and Q4 2025 compared to Q2 2025.
- The company initiated the Vanquish Phase III registration program for its subcutaneous VK2735 in patients with obesity and completed enrollment in a Phase II trial evaluating the oral tablet formulation of VK2735 in subjects with obesity, with results expected later in 2025.
- Viking also made progress with its novel amylin receptor agonist program, with an Investigational New Drug (IND) filing expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.
- As of June 30, 2025, Viking held cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $800 million, which is expected to provide the runway to complete planned Phase III trials for VK2735 and pursue additional programs.
- Viking Therapeutics is advancing multiple clinical programs for metabolic and endocrine diseases, including VK2735 for obesity and VK2809 for MASH.
- The subcutaneous formulation of VK2735, a GLP-1/GIP dual agonist, is now in Phase 3 for obesity following successful VENTURE Phase 2 results that showed up to 14.7% mean weight loss after 13 weeks.
- An oral formulation of VK2735 is in Phase 2 for obesity, with Phase 1 data demonstrating up to 8.2% weight reduction after 28 days; Phase 2 data is anticipated in 2H25.
- VK2809, a selective thyroid receptor-beta agonist, successfully completed its Phase 2b study in 2Q24 for MASH, showing improvements in fibrosis and resolution of NASH.
- An Investigational New Drug (IND) application for an Amylin agonist for obesity is planned for 4Q25.
- Viking Therapeutics has initiated the VANQUISH Phase 3 clinical program for VK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist, for the potential treatment of metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
- The program includes two studies, VANQUISH-1 and VANQUISH-2, evaluating subcutaneous VK2735 once weekly for 78 weeks in approximately 4,500 obese adults and 1,100 obese or overweight adults with type 2 diabetes, respectively.
- This advancement follows positive top-line results from the Phase 2 VENTURE study in 2024, where subcutaneous VK2735 demonstrated statistically significant mean body weight reductions up to 14.7% from baseline and up to 13.1% relative to placebo after 13 weekly doses, with encouraging safety and tolerability.
- Viking also anticipates initiating a clinical study for a monthly maintenance regimen later this year and reporting results from the Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral Dosing study in the second half of this year.
- Viking Therapeutics presented updates on its metabolic disease programs, highlighting the progress of its VK2735 dual GLP-1/GIP agonist with promising weight loss data (up to 14.7% reduction) and a planned move into Phase 3 later this month.
- Clinical results showed durable weight loss with favorable GI tolerability and indicated potential flexibility in dosing regimens, including weekly, monthly, and low-dose oral maintenance schedules.
- The company announced a long-term supply agreement with Cordon Pharma to secure multi-ton annual API capacity and enhanced fill/finish and tablet production capabilities, positioning it for robust manufacturing support.
- Viking Therapeutics also indicated readiness to explore strategic partnering opportunities to help expand program availability in the large obesity market.