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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.
| 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?
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.
- Financial Performance: Q1 2025 resulted in a net loss of $45.6M and a cash balance of $852M, amid increased R&D ($41.4M) and G&A ($14.1M) expenses .
- Clinical Pipeline: Phase III trials for subcutaneous VK2735 are set to begin in 2Q25, while the Phase II VENTURE-Oral Dosing trial is fully enrolled (~280 participants) with data expected in 2H25 .
- Pipeline Progress: Ongoing studies include evaluating a monthly dosing regimen and conducting an auto‐injector bridging study, with additional data expected in later periods .
- Manufacturing Agreement: Viking entered a comprehensive agreement with CordenPharma to secure large-scale API and fill/finish capacity for future commercialization of VK2735 .
- Strategic Initiatives: The company is advancing additional programs, including an IND filing for its amylin agonist candidate in 2H25 .
- Obesity program progress: Viking advances its dual-agonist peptide program with Phase II data showing up to 14.7% weight loss in diabetics over 13 weeks and plans to initiate Phase III in Q2.
- Multi-year manufacturing agreement: Viking secures a deal with CordenPharma to produce multi-ton API, 100 million autoinjectors, 100 million vial/syringe products, and over 1 billion oral tablets annually.
- $150 million prepayments are scheduled from 2025 to 2028 to secure dedicated capacity, supporting a potential multi-billion-dollar annual opportunity.
- Robust commercialization support: The agreement strengthens Viking’s supply chain as it advances Phase 2 and plans Phase 3 development for VK2735.
- Strong financial runway: With over $900 million in cash, Viking is well positioned to fund both subcutaneous and oral Phase III studies while considering additional backup suppliers.
- Financial Results: Q4 net loss of $35.4 million and full-year net loss of $110.0 million amid increased R&D & G&A expenses, while maintaining a robust cash balance of $903 million [20250205LA12582:0, VKTX_3414459_1].
- Phase III Initiatives: Planned initiation of Phase III trials for subcutaneous VK2735 in Q2 2025 following promising Phase II data [20250205LA12582:0, VKTX_3414459_0].
- Positive Phase II Outcomes: Encouraging Phase II results for VK2735 and VK2809 [20250205LA12582:1, 0000950170-25-014464_vktx-ex99_1.htm:0].
- Formulation & Delivery Advances: VK2735 demonstrated strong outcomes in both subcutaneous and oral formulations, with plans to introduce an auto-injector system and explore maintenance dosing strategies [VKTX_3414459_0, VKTX_3414459_10].
- VK0214 Clinical Update: Encouraging Phase 1b data and safety/efficacy findings in the VK0214 trial for X-ALD [20250205LA12582:3, VKTX_3414459_4].
- Pomerantz LLP has initiated an investigation on behalf of Viking Therapeutics investors concerning potential securities fraud and other unlawful business practices.
- The probe follows a significant trading event where Viking's stock dropped $9.74 per share (13.36%) after positive trial data for its anti-obesity drug, VK2735, raised concerns over production issues.
- Investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton from Pomerantz LLP for further information.
- Viking Therapeutics is progressing its metabolic and obesity pipeline with multiple clinical programs, including the subcutaneous dual agonist VK2735 (obesity), VK2809 (NASH), and VK0214 (rare disease).
- The 13‑week subcutaneous VENTURE study demonstrated significant dose‑dependent weight loss (up to 14.7% reduction) with durable effects, supporting the planned initiation of Phase III trials in the first half of the year.
- Encouraging 28‑day data from the oral formulation study showed promising weight loss signals and favorable tolerability, reinforcing the potential for both induction and lower‐dose maintenance regimens.
- The company highlighted a robust financial position with over $900 million on the balance sheet and is focused on establishing a global partner with strong metabolic expertise.
- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) for potential securities fraud following positive VK2735 trial data and subsequent concerns over higher production doses that led to a significant stock price drop.
- Initiated a Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral Dosing Trial to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and weight loss efficacy of the oral tablet formulation of VK2735 in adults with obesity or overweight with co-morbidities.
- Approximately 280 patients will be randomized in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study over 13 weeks, with primary focus on percent change in body weight from baseline.
- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors, alleging that Viking Therapeutics and certain officers or directors may have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful practices.
- The investigation follows a period of market volatility after Viking’s positive trial data for its anti-obesity drug VK2735 led to a temporary stock rally and subsequent production concerns.