Shares of Viking Therapeutics jumped on Thursday after the biotech company a day earlier announced plans to advance its experimental weight loss injection into a late-stage trial earlier than expected. It brings the drugmaker one step closer to joining the highly popular market for GLP-1s, which analysts say could grow into a $150 billion market by the end of the decade.
Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX ) stock is heading higher on Thursday as the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company prepares to start another trial for its weight loss drug. Viking Therapeutics says that it's ready to progress subcutaneous VK2735 into a Phase 3 clinical trial as a treatment for obesity and other metabolic disorders.
VKTX's obesity therapy candidate, VK2735, demonstrates accelerated weight loss results compared to Wegovy/ Mounjaro and the next-gen candidates, including CagriSema/ Zepbound/ Retatrutide. This explains why the stock is trading at a notable premium compared to its historical means and biotech sector, offering interested investors with a minimal margin of safety. VKTX remains a pre-revenue biotech company with uncertain means to bring the product to mass-market global commercialization upon the supposed US FDA/ the EU EC approval.
Devoid of marketed drugs, investors will focus on Viking Therapeutics' (VKTX) pipeline updates when it reports second-quarter results.
Viking Therapeutics has a promising pipeline featuring several experimental drugs. The indications the company is targeting represent huge potential markets.
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) reachead $50.12 at the closing of the latest trading day, reflecting a +0.56% change compared to its last close.
Viking Therapeutics' shares have skyrocketed this year. The biotech owes its performance to its two leading assets.
Viking's share price has been tumbling in recent months, and trading volumes are also down significantly. The stock could see an uptick in volume later this month once it posts its latest earnings numbers.
Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk dominate a weight loss drug sector heading towards a competitive race, but the market opportunity could reach over $100 billion. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. shows promising results with VK2735, potentially outperforming competitors in weight loss trials. The stock is an attractive investment with the potential for a premium buyout and consensus analyst price targets over 100% higher.
Despite having no marketed drugs, Viking's (VKTX) stock continues to experience robust price movement, driven by the company's encouraging progress with its pipeline.
Viking Therapeutics stock is flying high thanks to its two leading pipeline candidates. But the biotech doesn't have any expected major catalysts to jolt its price by year-end.
In the closing of the recent trading day, Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) stood at $47.39, denoting a -0.86% change from the preceding trading day.