Viking Therapeutics

Pharma companies race to develop weight-loss pills as effective as injectables like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Viking Therapeutics, and others report promising trial results. GLP-1 drugs, while revolutionary, require weekly injections and face supply issues. Dozens of new weight-loss medications are in development, aiming for faster effects, pill forms, or longer-lasting injectables. Leading candidates include Eli Lilly's retatrutide (Triple-G), Viking Therapeutics' VK2735, Eli Lilly's orforglipron, Novo Nordisk's CagriSema, and Amgen's MariTide, with potential market value forecast at $100 billion.

Viking Therapeutics' VK2735, a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist, could challenge Eli Lilly's weight loss treatments. Viking is developing a quadruple-pathway drug combining VK2735 with amylin and calcitonin agonists, potentially surpassing Lilly's triagonist approach.

AstraZeneca's oral GLP-1 agonist AZD5004 showed similar efficacy to injected versions in a Phase I trial, with plans for Phase IIb obesity and diabetes studies by late 2025. The drug aims to enter the lucrative obesity market, competing with Novo Nordisk's injectables. AZD5004, licensed from Eccogene, is expected to generate $800 million in sales by 2032 if successful.

Invest better with The Motley Fool's premium services for stock recommendations and portfolio guidance.

Viking Therapeutics' stock surged on positive Phase I data for its obesity pill VK2735 but fell due to analyst concerns over manufacturing. The trial showed 6.8% weight loss in high-dose cohort. Viking plans a 13-week Phase II study in Q4 2024. The company also revealed advanced data from a subcutaneous version, indicating potential competition with Eli Lilly's Mounjaro.

AstraZeneca showcased early data for its weight management pipeline at ObesityWeek 2024, including AZD5004 (oral GLP-1) and AZD6234 (long-acting amylin agonist), highlighting favorable tolerability and potential efficacy in type 2 diabetes patients and healthy participants.

New data from Viking Therapeutics and AstraZeneca highlights competitive weight-loss pill development, with potential market value reaching $130 billion by 2030. Viking's pill showed a 6.8% weight loss in early trials, while AstraZeneca's drug demonstrated a 5.8% reduction in diabetics. Other pharmaceutical giants like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are also in the race, focusing on convenience and reduced side effects. The industry faces challenges including high R&D costs, regulatory hurdles, and ethical debates over drug pricing and accessibility.