Viking Therapeutics shares jump on weight loss drug data

Viking Therapeutics shares surged about 35.67% on Tuesday after the company reported topline results from a maintenance dosing study of VK2735, its experimental dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist for obesity, showing sustained weight loss on less frequent dosing schedules. In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 180 adults with a body mass index of at least 30 received weekly subcutaneous doses of VK2735 ranging from 15 mg to 22.5 mg, or placebo, for 21 weeks. Participants lost approximately 16% to 19% of their body weight, compared with roughly 0% for placebo, with weight loss continuing to progress and no plateau observed, the company said. After the induction period, participants transitioned for 12 weeks to weekly, every-other-week, monthly or placebo dosing. Those switched to every-other-week dosing retained a mean of 83% to 97% of their initial weight loss, while monthly dosing groups retained 82% to 90%, compared with 61% retention among participants moved to placebo. Viking reported p-values below 0.01 for each maintenance cohort versus placebo. Participants who continued on a 17.5 mg weekly dose throughout the 33-week study reached 21.