Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) shares were in focus Monday after the company announced the peer-reviewed publication of its Phase 2 VENTURE study results, reinforcing the weight-loss potential of its lead candidate as it enters a pivotal year of Phase 3 testing.
The data, published in the journal Obesity, showed that patients receiving weekly subcutaneous injections of VK2735—a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist—achieved up to 14.7% mean body-weight reduction in just 13 weeks.
Critically, researchers noted that weight loss had not yet plateaued by the end of the treatment period, suggesting further declines could be achieved with longer dosing.
The safety profile remained consistent with the GLP-1 class, with most side effects characterized as mild or moderate gastrointestinal events.
The publication arrives as Viking aggressively ramps up its registrational program to compete with established giants like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
The company’s "VANQUISH" Phase 3 program is now well underway; the VANQUISH-1 trial has surpassed its enrollment goals with approximately 4,650 participants, while the VANQUISH-2 study, targeting patients with type 2 diabetes, is on track to finish enrollment this quarter.
Viking is also looking beyond initial weight loss toward long-term treatment sustainability.
The company recently completed enrollment for a 180-subject maintenance study designed to test monthly subcutaneous and oral dosing regimens.
This multi-modal approach—offering both injectable and oral options for the same molecule—is a key pillar of Viking’s strategy to differentiate itself in a market projected to reach $100 billion by the end of the decade.