Viking Therapeutics’ VK2735 achieves endpoints in Phase 2 obesity trial

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) announced positive top-line results from the company’s Phase 2 clinical trial of the oral tablet formulation of VK2735, the company’s dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 – GLP-1 – and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide – GIP- ) receptors for the potential treatment of various metabolic disorders such as obesity. The Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral Dosing trial successfully achieved its primary and secondary endpoints, with patients receiving VK2735 demonstrating statistically significant reductions in body weight compared with placebo. Additionally, the study showed VK2735 treatment to be safe and well-tolerated through 13 weeks of daily dosing with the majority of treatment emergent adverse events being categorized as mild or moderate. Participants receiving once daily doses of the oral tablet formulation of VK2735 demonstrated statistically significant reductions in mean body weight after 13 weeks, ranging up to 12.2% from baseline. Participants receiving VK2735 also demonstrated statistically significant reductions in mean body weight relative to placebo, ranging up to 10.9%. Reductions in body weight were progressive at all doses through the course of the study, with no plateau observed for weight loss at 13 weeks. During the study 13% of participants receiving placebo discontinued treatment due to an adverse event, compared with 20% of participants receiving VK2735 treatment. The most common reasons for treatment discontinuation were gastrointestinal-related adverse events. Overall treatment discontinuation rates were 18% among placebo subjects compared with 28% among VK2735 subjects. The observed results suggest that effective weight maintenance may also be achieved at doses less than30 mg.