Viking Therapeutics Starts Human Clinical Trials For New Obesity Drug Following Federal Regulatory Clearance

Key Stats for Viking Therapeutics Stock

• Price change for Viking Therapeutics stock: 9%
• $VKTX Share Price as of Jun. 24: $38
• 52-Week High: $43
• $VKTX Stock Price Target: $93

Now Live: Discover how much upside your favorite stocks could have using TIKR’s new Valuation Model (It’s free)>>>

What Happened?

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) stock jumped nearly 26% over the past week after the company announced it has started a Phase 1 clinical trial for VK3019, a new experimental weight loss drug. The trial follows FDA clearance of Viking’s investigational new drug application.

VK3019 works differently from most obesity drugs on the market. It targets two receptors — amylin and calcitonin — rather than the GLP-1 pathway used by drugs like Ozempic.

In preclinical studies, the drug cut food intake in rats within 72 hours of a single dose and reduced body weight by up to 8% in obese mice.

The Phase 1 trial is randomized and placebo-controlled. It will test single doses in adults with a BMI of 30 or higher.

The primary goals are to assess the drug’s safety and how the body processes it. Researchers will also track any early changes in body weight.

This launch adds another promising asset to Viking’s already busy pipeline.

• The company is also running two Phase 3 VANQUISH trials for its lead drug VK2735, a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist given by weekly injection.
• One trial targets adults with obesity; the other focuses on adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
• A Phase 3 trial for an oral version of VK2735 is also planned for later this year.

Analyst sentiment around Viking Therapeutics stock remains bullish.

• Lake Street initiated coverage with a buy rating and an $89 price target, projecting VK2735 could reach $3 billion in risk-adjusted sales by 2040.
• Truist Securities also initiated with a buy rating and an $83 target, calling Viking a differentiated player in obesity treatment.

See analysts’ growth forecasts and price targets for Viking Therapeutics stock (It’s free) >>>

What the Market Is Telling Us About Viking Therapeutics Stock

Viking Therapeutics stock is gaining momentum on multiple fronts.

The FDA clearance for VK3019 signals the company is successfully expanding beyond its lead program. With Phase 3 data from VANQUISH expected and an oral obesity drug in the pipeline, investors are betting on a company that could have multiple shots at the growing obesity treatment market.

The strong balance sheet — with more cash than debt and a current ratio of 5.72 — gives it the runway to see these programs through.

Estimate a company’s fair value instantly (Free with TIKR) >>>

How Much Upside Does Viking Therapeutics Stock Have From Here?

With TIKR’s new Valuation Model tool, you can estimate a stock’s potential share price in under a minute.

All it takes is three simple inputs:

1. Revenue Growth
2. Operating Margins
3. Exit P/E Multiple

If you’re not sure what to enter, TIKR automatically fills in each input using analysts’ consensus estimates, giving you a quick, reliable starting point.

From there, TIKR calculates the potential share price and total returns under Bull, Base, and Bear scenarios so you can quickly see whether a stock looks undervalued or overvalued.

See a stock’s true value in under 60 seconds (Free with TIKR) >>>

Looking for New Opportunities?

• See what stocks billionaire investors are buying so you can follow the smart money.
• Analyze stocks in as little as 5 minutes with TIKR’s all-in-one, easy-to-use platform.
• The more rocks you overturn… the more opportunities you’ll uncover. Search 100K+ global stocks, global top investor holdings, and more with TIKR.

Disclaimer:

Please note that the articles on TIKR are not intended to serve as investment or financial advice from TIKR or our content team, nor are they recommendations to buy or sell any stocks. We create our content based on TIKR Terminal’s investment data and analysts’ estimates. Our analysis might not include recent company news or important updates. TIKR has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading, and happy investing!