Viking eyes weight-loss maintenance setting as discontinuations spook investors

Investor concerns about the commercial prospects of oral obesity therapies resurfaced Tuesday as shares of Viking sank 42% after reporting tolerability issues in a trial of its dual GLP-1R/GIP agonist VK2735. The company suggested maintenance therapy — where tolerability challenges may be reduced — as one possible path forward.

Viking Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) reported 13-week data from the Phase II VENTURE-ORAL study of VK2735, showing the 120 mg high dose of the peptide led to a 10.9% placebo-adjusted weight reduction, placing it among the more active oral therapies in the pipeline. ...