Viking Therapeutics Stock Soars, Picks Up Retail Buzz On ‘Promising’ Early Results For Obesity Pill

Shares of Viking Therapeutics ($VKTX) surged nearly 25% in premarket trading on Monday after presenting promising early data on its oral obesity pill, VK2735, at the ObesityWeek conference. 

The experimental drug showed a weight loss of 8.2% at the highest 100 mg dose after 28 days — 6.8% higher than placebo — with no discontinuations at this dose, according to a report by IBD’s Ed Carson. 

VK2735, part of the GLP-1 class that includes Novo Nordisk’s ($NVO) and Eli Lilly’s ($LLY) injectables, has gained attention as a potential oral alternative.

JPMorgan analysts, led by Hardik Parikh, reportedly called the 8% weight loss “a great outcome,” particularly noting the drug’s tolerability at higher doses. 

Viking is also testing an injectable version of VK2735 in a mid-stage trial.

Retail interest is rising sharply, with Stocktwits reporting a 42% increase in VKTX followers over the past year and a 2,380% surge in message volume. 

One bullish user noted that obesity drugs are the “main driver” for VKTX, but the company’s pipeline also includes therapies for metabolic steatohepatitis (MASH) and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), which affects the nervous system and adrenal glands.

Another noticed details from the trial report that showed that the weight loss was maintained “long after the last dose.”

VKTX stock has risen 292% year-to-date, far outperforming major indices, and remains a top-trending ticker on Stocktwits as of Monday morning.

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