Stock price for Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: VKTX) jumped 111.23% this current session, reaching $81.28 – a promising sign. Recent favorable clinical outcomes correlate with this increase in VKTX stock price.

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) disclosed encouraging Phase 2 trial findings for VK2735, a medication targeting GLP-1 and GIP receptors, aiming to tackle obesity and metabolic issues. The Phase 2 VENTURE trial has effectively met its primary objective along with all secondary goals, with subjects administered VK2735 demonstrating statistically significant declines in body mass compared to those on placebo.

Furthermore, the study indicates that VK2735 treatment is well-tolerated and safe, with most treatment-related adverse events categorized as mild or moderate. Viking intends to engage with the FDA to discuss subsequent developmental steps for VK2735 based on these findings. Patients subjected to weekly VK2735 doses exhibited statistically notable reductions in average body mass after a 13-week regimen, ranging up to 14.7% from baseline.

These patients also displayed statistically significant declines in average body mass compared to the placebo group, reaching up to 13.1%. Significant differences relative to both baseline and placebo were evident across all dosages starting from the first week and persisting throughout the 13-week treatment period. Weight reduction exhibited a progressive trend during the study duration, with no plateau observed at the 13-week mark.

All VK2735 dosage levels showcased statistically significant variances compared to placebo regarding the key secondary endpoint, which assessed the proportion of patients achieving at least a 10% weight reduction. Remarkably, up to 88% of patients in VK2735 treatment cohorts achieved this milestone, compared to a mere 4% for the placebo group. VK2735 demonstrated commendable safety and tolerability profiles following a 13-week regimen of once-weekly dosing.

Discontinuation rates in the VENTURE study remained low and evenly distributed between patients treated with VK2735 and those administered placebo. In total, 23 patients (13%) discontinued treatment during the study, with 5 (14%) in the placebo cohort and 18 (13%) among VK2735-treated cohorts.