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Written by Lee Samaha for The Motley Fool
The company's key drug continues to demonstrate it can produce rapid weight loss in people with obesity.
The maintenance dosing data support its potential to generate sustained weight loss for patients.
Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) stock surged this week on results from a maintenance study of its key pipeline obesity treatment, VK2735. The top-line results led to a slew of Wall Street upgrades and helped support the case for VK2735 as a potential long-term obesity treatment, and the company promptly announced a $400 million capital raise, which it increased to $500 million the following day.
GLP-1 and GIP agonist, VK2735, has the potential to carve out a niche in the highly competitive weight-loss market by delivering rapid weight loss and serving as a maintenance therapy, either subcutaneously (injectable) or orally. This study focused solely on injectable doses: a weekly dose for 21 weeks, followed by weekly, biweekly, or monthly maintenance dosing.
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First, a 22% adjusted weight loss at week 33 in the cohort taking a weekly 17mg dose for 21 weeks, then a weekly 17.5 mg maintenance dose over 12 weeks, with "no plateau observed." This data compares favorably with the rapidity of weight loss achieved by rival drugs.
Second, the cohort taking the weekly 21-week dose of 17.5mg who switched to a biweekly 17.5mg maintenance dose over 12 weeks maintained 97% of the weight loss achieved at 21 weeks.
Third, the cohort taking the weekly 21-week dose of 17.5mg who switched to a monthly 17.5mg maintenance dose over 12 weeks maintained 90% of the weight loss achieved at 21 weeks.
The latter two results indicate potential for maintenance therapies to help patients sustain weight loss over time, and the first provides further evidence that VK2735 can deliver rapid weight loss.
It's exciting data, and investors will look forward to the second part of the study, in which an oral maintenance dose will be trialed. In addition, Viking already has VK2735 (subcutaneous) in a Phase 3 trial and expects to commence VK2735 (oral) in a Phase 3 trial by the end of this year.
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Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.