🔥 Premium AI-powered Stock Picks from InvestingPro Now up to 50% OffCLAIM SALE

Weight Loss Drug Market Gets Crowded As Viking Therapeutics Drops Encouraging Phase 2 Data From Obesity Study

Published 27/02/2024, 14:48
© Reuters.  Weight Loss Drug Market Gets Crowded As Viking Therapeutics Drops Encouraging Phase 2 Data From Obesity Study
VKTX
-

Benzinga - by Vandana Singh, Benzinga Editor.

Tuesday, Viking Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:VKTX) released top-line results from its Phase 2 trial of VK2735, a 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 such as obesity.

The Phase 2 VENTURE trial achieved its primary endpoint and all secondary endpoints, with patients receiving VK2735 demonstrating statistically significant reductions in body weight compared with placebo.

Additionally, the study showed VK2735 treatment to be safe and well tolerated, with most treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) being categorized as mild or moderate.

Patients receiving weekly doses of VK2735 demonstrated statistically significant reductions in mean body weight after 13 weeks, ranging up to 14.7% from baseline.

Also Read: Amgen’s Upcoming Catalysts In 2024 Set To Unlock Multi-Billion Dollar Markets, Says Goldman Sachs.

Patients receiving VK2735 also demonstrated statistically significant reductions in mean body weight relative to placebo, ranging up to 13.1%.

Statistically significant differences compared to baseline and placebo were observed for all doses starting at Week one and continuing throughout the 13-week treatment period.

Reductions in body weight were progressive throughout the study, with no plateau observed for weight loss at 13 weeks.

All doses of VK2735 also demonstrated statistically significant differences relative to placebo on the key secondary endpoint assessing the proportion of patients demonstrating at least 10% weight loss.

Up to 88% of patients in VK2735 treatment groups achieved ≥10% weight loss, compared with 4% for placebo.

We look forward to progressing this important therapy into further clinical development later this year. Separately, we remain on track to report data from a Phase 1 study of an oral formulation of VK2735 later this quarter,” said Brian Lian, CEO.

A total of 23 patients (13%) discontinued treatment in the study, 5 (14%) in the placebo cohort, and 18 (13%) among VK2735-treated cohorts.

Most TEAEs that were gastrointestinal in nature (95%) were also reported as mild or moderate.

The stock went up as much as 98% in premarket trading on Tuesday

Price Action: VKTX shares are up 56% at $60.02 on the last check Tuesday.

Photo via Shutterstock

© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Read the original article on Benzinga

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.