Weight loss drug market explodes: the company that surges after trial success

Viking Therapeutics surged 35% on Wall Street after publishing positive results from a trial of its weight loss drug VK2735. In the trial, patients lost 16%-19% of their body weight within 21 weeks, and a follow-up study showed the weight loss was maintained even when switching to a lower frequency dose. The company is also developing a pill version.

Biomed company Viking Therapeutics saw its stock jump about 35% on Wall Street after publishing positive results from a trial of its weight loss drug VK2735. In the trial, patients receiving a weekly injection lost 16%-19% of their body weight within 21 weeks. In a follow-up study, patients who switched to a bi-weekly injection maintained up to 97% of the weight loss, while those on a monthly dose maintained up to 90%. The placebo group maintained only 61%. Among patients who continued the weekly injection for 33 weeks, an average weight loss of about 22% was recorded, with no ceiling effect. The drug has not yet been approved for marketing and is in Phase 3 trials. The company is also developing a pill version. The results strengthen its position in the global race for weight loss drugs.