High Drop-Out Rate Clouds Viking Therapeutics’ Oral Weight Loss Drug Trial Results
Viking Therapeutics reported that roughly 20% of patients in its oral obesity drug trial discontinued treatment, causing shares to plunge over 40% on August 20, 2025135.
The high drop-out rate has raised concerns about the reliability and interpretability of the weight loss data for the investigational oral formulation35.
Earlier phase I results had been highly promising, with the highest dose of VK2735 leading to an average weight loss of 8.2% after 28 days and fewer gastrointestinal side effects compared to rivals24.
Key study analysts previously highlighted the potential for Viking's oral drug to be 'class-leading' in terms of weight loss efficacy2.
However, the recent phase 2 trial discontinuations and high drop-outs have cast doubt on the drug's commercial and therapeutic prospects, causing substantial investor concern135.
Sources:
1. https://firstwordpharma.com/story/5990381
2. https://www.biospace.com/drug-development/viking-touts-promising-phase-i-weight-loss-data-for-obesity-pill-candidate
3. https://pharmaphorum.com/news/viking-felled-dropout-rates-oral-obesity-drug-trial
4. https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/viking-obesity-drug-results-vk2735-oral/731862/
5. https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/viking-oral-obesity-drug-results-study-discontinuationsdata-dropout/758019/