Biotech Values

[Mufaso]

VKTX- Viking Therapeutics reported additional Data from their phase 1 trial of VK2735 an GLP-1/GIP agonist at Obesity week today. The additional data was around liver fat reduction and plasma lipid levels The new data looks very good and provides further evidence that this drug has very good efficacy. From the press release here is the new data:

https://ir.vikingtherapeutics.com/2023-10-17-Viking-Therapeutics-Presents-New-Data-from-Phase-1-Clinical-Trial-of-Dual-GLP-1-GIP-Receptor-Agonist-VK2735-in-Oral-Presentation-at-ObesityWeek-2023

Reduction in Liver Fat Content:

Following 28 days of once-weekly treatment with VK2735, study results demonstrated reductions in liver fat content, both as compared to baseline and as compared to placebo. Subjects receiving VK2735 experienced reductions in liver fat ranging up to 47.2% from baseline.

In the subgroup of study subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), defined as those with greater than 5% liver fat at baseline, the reductions in liver fat levels were more pronounced. For these subjects, reductions from baseline after four weekly doses ranged up to 49.7%, and placebo-adjusted reductions of up to 58.5% were reported. These results suggest that treatment with VK2735 may provide benefit among patients with NAFLD or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Reduction in Plasma Lipid Levels

Study investigators also evaluated the change in subjects' levels of plasma lipids, including apolipoprotein B (ApoB), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and total cholesterol, following 28 days of once-weekly treatment with VK2735. Dose dependent reductions from baseline in these plasma lipid levels were observed across VK2735 treatment cohorts after four weekly doses. No meaningful changes in levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (good cholesterol) were observed following treatment with VK2735.

Again this Phase 1 study was only 28 days. On weight loss- Viking previously reported that "All MAD cohorts receiving VK2735 experienced reductions in mean body weight from baseline, ranging up to 7.8%."

VK2735 has the same MOA as LLY's Mounjaro and has a realistic shot at being better than Mounjaro from an efficacy standpoint as well as a tolerability standpoint. VKTX is currently in a Phase 2 trial of the SubQ version of this drug and the Phase 1 trial is ongoing having added arms with an ORAL formulation.