Viking Therapeutics Shares Crash After Obesity Pill VK2735 Delivers 12% Weight Loss, But Side Effects and Discontinuations Raise Concerns
Viking Therapeutics' oral obesity pill VK2735 achieved up to 12.2% body weight loss at the highest dose in a 13-week Phase 2 trial, outperforming placebo by 11 percentage points1234.
Despite meeting its primary endpoint, the results fell short of competitors' pills:
both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk showed higher efficacy in their respective trials2.
A significant proportion of participants (up to 38% in the highest dose group) discontinued VK2735 treatment due to adverse events, primarily gastrointestinal side effects including nausea and vomiting; 20-28% stopped due to side effects overall124.
Viking's stock value dropped sharply—falling by as much as 44%—after the trial results were published, reflecting investor concerns about efficacy versus competitors and tolerability1234.
The company noted gastrointestinal adverse events tended to happen early and resolved with continued dosing, with suggestions that lower doses may ensure better tolerability over time2.
Sources:
1. https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/viking-oral-obesity-drug-results-study-discontinuationsdata-dropout/758019/
2. https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/viking-obesity-pill-phase-ii-results/
3. https://www.biospace.com/drug-development/viking-crashes-as-obesity-pill-delivers-over-12-weight-loss