Tuesday, November 13, 2018 9:46:01 AM
[Motley Fool]
George Budwell, The Motley Fool
,Motley Fool•November 13, 2018
What happened
Shares of the clinical-stage biotech Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) rose by as much as 15% in pre-market trading today. Why are investors bidding up this stock today?
The big news is that Viking presented updated data for its nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) drug candidate, VK2809, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases yesterday.
So what
While most of the results were largely a rehash of the company's prior top-line readout released last September, Viking did unveil a new "super-responder" analysis, where a whopping 67% of VK2809-treated patients exhibited ≥ 50% reduction in liver fat content at 12 weeks. The company reportedly assessed liver fat content by magnetic resonance imaging, proton density fat fraction. As an important aside, Viking also reiterated that no serious adverse events were observed among patients receiving either VK2809 or placebo in the study.
Given VK2809's outstanding safety and efficacy profile to date, Viking appears to have a real shot at grabbing a best-in-class designation for this drug. At present, Viking trails both Intercept Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ICPT) and Madrigal Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MDGL) in the race to bring the first drug ever to market for NASH. But that might not matter if the company can develop a treatment that is both safer and considerably more potent than either of these front runners.
Now what
Why is this latest data readout such a big deal? In short, Viking is attempting to capture a significant portion of this multibillion-dollar drug market with VK2809 -- not just develop a so-called "me-too" drug that's unable to compete on even keel with Intercept's and Madrigal's offerings. This new super-responder analysis seems to suggest that VK2809 may indeed have what it takes to overcome Intercept's and Madrigal's first-mover advantage. If so, Viking's shares will turn out to be a downright bargain at these levels.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-viking-therapeutics-stock-bolting-130000001.html
GO VKTX
"PEACE"
Recent VKTX News
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 09/21/2024 01:20:57 AM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 09/20/2024 08:29:51 PM
- Viking Therapeutics to Participate at Morgan Stanley 22nd Annual Global Healthcare Conference • PR Newswire (US) • 08/28/2024 08:03:00 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/22/2024 11:23:58 PM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/21/2024 08:30:12 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/20/2024 12:13:31 AM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/20/2024 12:00:06 AM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/31/2024 08:05:07 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/31/2024 08:05:07 PM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/30/2024 09:56:42 PM
- Form 144 - Report of proposed sale of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/30/2024 09:55:09 PM
- Earnings Updates: Ford Shares Fall 13% on EPS Miss, Stellantis Down 6%, Viking Therapeutics Up 20%, Unilever Up 5% • IH Market News • 07/25/2024 10:19:48 AM
- Form 10-Q - Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/24/2024 09:00:23 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/24/2024 08:10:08 PM
- Viking Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update • PR Newswire (US) • 07/24/2024 08:05:00 PM
- US Index Futures Fall Amid Tech Giant Earnings, Oil Prices Rise • IH Market News • 07/24/2024 09:55:54 AM
- Viking Therapeutics to Report Financial Results for Second Quarter 2024 on July 24, 2024 • PR Newswire (US) • 07/17/2024 08:05:00 PM
- Viking Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data on Novel Dual Amylin and Calcitonin Receptor Agonists at 84th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association • PR Newswire (US) • 06/24/2024 11:33:00 AM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/04/2024 11:10:11 AM
- Viking Therapeutics Announces Positive 52-Week Histologic Data from Phase 2b VOYAGE Study of VK2809 in Patients with Biopsy-Confirmed Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) • PR Newswire (US) • 06/04/2024 11:05:00 AM
- Viking Therapeutics to Participate at Upcoming Investor Conferences • PR Newswire (US) • 05/30/2024 08:03:00 PM
- Form S-8 POS - Securities to be offered to employees in employee benefit plans, post-effective amendments • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/22/2024 09:12:36 PM
- Form S-8 - Securities to be offered to employees in employee benefit plans • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/22/2024 08:33:26 PM
- Viking Therapeutics Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update • PR Newswire (US) • 04/24/2024 08:05:00 PM
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