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Viking’s Oral Obesity Pill Shows Strong Weight Loss but High Dropouts, Triggering Stock Rout

Heavy discontinuation and gastrointestinal side effects raised doubts about its ability to challenge larger rivals in the pill race.

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Viking Therapeutics' obesity pill VK2735 met its primary endpoints in a Phase II trial, but failed to beat the efficacy of Novo Nordisk's Rybelsus or Eli LIlly's orforglipron. Image credit: SDI Productions, E+ via Getty Images.
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Overview

  • Phase 2 data showed VK2735 cut body weight by up to 12.2% over 13 weeks versus about 1.3% with placebo, meeting the study’s primary endpoint.
  • Roughly 28% of participants on VK2735 discontinued treatment versus 18% on placebo, rising to about 38% at the highest dose, with nausea and vomiting the most common issues.
  • Viking shares fell around 40% on Aug. 19 as investors reacted to tolerability concerns that could limit real‑world use.
  • CEO Brian Lian said GI events clustered early and were mostly mild to moderate, and the company will test lower starting doses, slower titration, and maintenance dosing after an exploratory 90 mg‑to‑30 mg step‑down maintained weight loss.
  • Analysts said the profile looks weaker than Eli Lilly’s orforglipron and Novo Nordisk’s oral semaglutide; Novo awaits an FDA decision by late 2025, Lilly targets a filing by year‑end, and Viking’s injectable version has later‑stage readouts expected in 2027.