Viking Therapeutics said patients lost 17.8% of their weight after 21 weeks on injectable VK2735 at 17.5 mg weekly. After 12 weeks on 17 mg every two weeks, they retained 97% of that loss; oral dosing was not included and is due for testing in the trial’s next part.
Management said the trial’s next part will begin imminently and test oral doses of 17.5 mg, 27.5 mg and 35 mg; the results will offer a read, but not a definitive answer, on the oral formulation. In an earlier 13-week Phase 2 oral study, 20% of treated patients withdrew because of adverse events, primarily gastrointestinal. CEO Brian Lian said the planned oral Phase 3 study would use a lower dose and smaller, fewer tablets; management expects oral Phase 3 trials to start this year.
After the trial results sent shares higher, Viking announced a $275 million common-stock offering and $225 million in convertible senior notes to support development of its drug pipeline.
