Friday, October 12, 2018 3:01:55 PM
What happened
Shares of Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) rose 33.3% in September, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, after the biotech released positive phase 2 data for its nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) drug VK2809.
So what
The results were quite impressive, with the drug reducing cholesterol levels by 20% or more compared to patients treated with placebo. Fat reduction in the liver went down by 56.5% to almost 60% depending on the dosage, compared to just an 8.9% reduction for placebo. At the best dose, more than 90% of patients had at least a 30% reduction in liver fat, compared to 18.2% of placebo-treated patients.
The data points are substantially better than Madrigal Pharmaceuticals' (NASDAQ: MDGL) MGL-3196 scored earlier this year, with its 36.3% liver fat reduction and 60.3% of patients achieving a 30% reduction in liver fat. While it can be dangerous to compare drugs across clinical trials, since the companies don't necessarily enroll the same types of patients, the placebo groups in the two trials performed remarkably similarly, with 18.4% and 18.2% of patients taking placebo in Madrigal's and Viking's studies, respectively, having at least a 30% reduction in liver fat.
Now what
Viking's increased valuation is well deserved considering that the size of the NASH market could be $35 billion and there aren't any drugs currently approved to treat the liver disease. But investors should keep in mind that while Viking appears to be beating Madrigal, there are at least three other companies that are already in phase 3 development.
A phase 3 study for VK2809 is likely to take awhile and be quite expensive, so Viking will probably end up finding a partner to foot the bill. The structure of that deal -- up-front payment, milestones, and royalties -- will likely determine Viking's valuation in the near term, as it can use the cash to fund the rest of its pipeline.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apos-why-viking-therapeutics-skyrocketed-182100012.html
GO VKTX
"PEACE"
Recent VKTX News
- Viking Therapeutics Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update • PR Newswire (US) • 04/24/2024 08:05:00 PM
- U.S. Futures Display Mixed Results Amid Earnings, WTI and Brent Crude Prices Dip in June Futures Trading • IH Market News • 04/24/2024 11:31:20 AM
- Viking Therapeutics to Report Financial Results for First Quarter 2024 on April 24, 2024 • PR Newswire (US) • 04/17/2024 08:05:00 PM
- Viking Therapeutics Announces Results from Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Oral Tablet Formulation of Dual GLP-1/GIP Receptor Agonist VK2735 • PR Newswire (US) • 03/26/2024 11:03:00 AM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 03/05/2024 12:54:02 AM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 03/05/2024 12:52:22 AM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 03/04/2024 09:52:52 PM
- Viking Therapeutics Announces Closing of Public Offering of Common Stock Including Full Exercise of Underwriters' Option to Purchase Additional Shares • PR Newswire (US) • 03/04/2024 09:45:00 PM
- Form 424B5 - Prospectus [Rule 424(b)(5)] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 03/01/2024 09:13:40 PM
- Viking Therapeutics Announces Pricing of $550 Million Public Offering of Common Stock • PR Newswire (US) • 02/29/2024 01:50:00 AM
- Form 424B5 - Prospectus [Rule 424(b)(5)] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/27/2024 10:21:23 PM
- Viking Therapeutics Announces Proposed Public Offering of Common Stock • PR Newswire (US) • 02/27/2024 09:19:00 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/27/2024 12:04:52 PM
- Viking Therapeutics Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Phase 2 VENTURE Trial of Dual GLP-1/GIP Receptor Agonist VK2735 in Patients with Obesity • PR Newswire (US) • 02/27/2024 12:03:00 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/10/2024 01:59:57 AM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/09/2024 09:01:11 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/09/2024 12:40:13 AM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/09/2024 12:38:45 AM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/08/2024 09:56:27 PM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/08/2024 09:33:26 PM
- Form S-8 - Securities to be offered to employees in employee benefit plans • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/07/2024 10:33:13 PM
- Form 10-K - Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/07/2024 10:24:07 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/07/2024 09:09:21 PM
- Viking Therapeutics Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2023 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update • PR Newswire (US) • 02/07/2024 09:05:00 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/01/2024 01:39:53 AM
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