Viking Therapeutics

The weight management market is rapidly expanding, with SNS Insider projecting a 43.73% annual growth rate through 2032. Major pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and Roche are entering the market, anticipating a 15-fold increase in obesity drug sales over five years. PlantX Life Inc. has partnered with LIV3 to launch SugarShield, a plant-based weight loss supplement targeting the $5.24bn market. Novo Nordisk's SOUL trial showed oral semaglutide reduced MACE by 14% in type 2 diabetes patients, while Eli Lilly is suing vendors for selling copycat tirzepatide. Viking Therapeutics and Roche are also advancing in obesity drug development.

PlantX Life Inc. announces joint venture with LIV3 to launch SugarShield supplement, targeting the $5.24 billion weight loss management market. The supplement aims to boost energy, curb cravings, and simplify weight management without restrictive diets, leveraging PlantX's expertise in branding and digital platforms.

Oprah Winfrey reflects on the impact of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound, which dominate the obesity market. The rise of GLP-1 drugs, initially for diabetes, has led to a 'silent revolution' in obesity treatment. Competition is heating up, with 16 new drugs expected by 2031. Small-cap companies like Viking Therapeutics and Terns Pharmaceuticals are emerging as key players, focusing on oral drugs and new therapeutic targets. Investors are advised to consider long-term efficacy and side effect management.

Viking Therapeutics and Summit Therapeutics are promising biotechs with significant market potential. Viking is advancing its obesity treatment, VK2735, with phase 3 trials, while Summit aims to commercialize its NSCLC treatment, ivonescimab. Both companies have substantial cash reserves and strategic pipelines. Investing in Viking may offer greater returns due to the larger obesity drug market, though it is riskier without a collaborator like Summit's Akesobio.

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) develops obesity treatments, with its injectable candidate showing a 15% weight reduction in phase 2 and a pill candidate showing a 5.3% reduction in phase 1. Despite competition from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, Viking could carve out market share due to high demand and potential buyout. Viking also explores treatments for NASH and X-ALD, with over $900 million in cash for program advancement.

Leerink Partners analyst Thomas Smith reiterates Buy rating on VKTX stock, citing promising clinical trial results of VK-0214 for X-ALD and upcoming data from VK-2735 obesity program.

Viking Therapeutics reports positive Phase Ib trial results for VK0214, a thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist, in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy patients. VK0214 showed safety, tolerability, and significant reductions in plasma very long-chain fatty acids and other lipids compared to placebo.

Pharma companies like Novo Nordisk, Viking Therapeutics, Amgen, and CRISPR Therapeutics are set to announce clinical trial results for next-gen weight loss drugs and a cancer/autoimmune disease cell therapy. Moderna may also launch a new product beyond its COVID-19 vaccine.