Viking Therapeutics’ injectable VK2735 maintenance study reported 22% adjusted weight loss at week 33 with weekly dosing and no plateau observed; separate groups switching to biweekly or monthly doses retained 97% and 90%, respectively, of their week-21 loss.
Participants received weekly injections for 21 weeks, followed by 12 weeks of weekly, biweekly or monthly maintenance. The 22% result came from a cohort that switched from 17 mg to 17.5 mg weekly; the less-frequent-dose groups switched from 17.5 mg weekly to the same dose biweekly or monthly. The study’s next part will test oral maintenance. Injectable VK2735 is in a Phase 3 trial, and Viking expects to start an oral Phase 3 trial by year-end.
Viking shares surged this week after the results prompted multiple Wall Street upgrades, according to the article. The company announced a $400 million capital raise and increased it to $500 million the following day.
