Viking Therapeutics reports 22% placebo-adjusted weight loss in VK2735 obesity study

• Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) reported positive topline results from a 33-week study of VK2735, a GLP-1/GIP dual agonist for obesity.
• The 17.5 mg once-weekly dose achieved 22% placebo-adjusted mean weight loss at Week 33.
• Maintenance dosing preserved a significant portion of prior weight loss with low gastrointestinal adverse event rates.

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) announced positive topline results from a 33-week clinical study evaluating VK2735, its investigational GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist being developed for obesity treatment.

The study evaluated VK2735’s ability to produce and maintain weight loss, including different maintenance dosing approaches following an initial weight reduction period.

The 17.5 mg once-weekly cohort achieved a 22% placebo-adjusted mean weight loss at Week 33, with the company reporting that weight reduction had not reached a plateau.

During the initial 21-week induction period, VK2735 produced mean weight reductions of approximately 16% to 19%, compared with approximately 0% for placebo.

Among treated participants, 65% achieved at least 15% weight loss, while 32% achieved at least 20% weight loss.

The study also evaluated lower-frequency maintenance dosing during a 12-week maintenance phase.

Participants receiving every-other-week dosing maintained up to 97% of previous weight loss, while monthly dosing preserved up to 90% of prior weight reduction.

By comparison, placebo participants maintained approximately 61% of previous weight loss.

The company reported statistically significant differences between VK2735 maintenance groups and placebo.

An exploratory group that continued receiving 17.5 mg once-weekly dosing achieved 21.7% mean weight loss at Week 33.

Meanwhile, Viking reported that gastrointestinal adverse events and treatment discontinuations during the maintenance phase were low and generally comparable with placebo.

The company said the findings support continued development of VK2735 and plans to conduct a second part of its oral maintenance study program.

VK2735 belongs to a growing class of dual GLP-1/GIP therapies designed to target metabolic pathways involved in appetite regulation, glucose control and weight management.