Viking Therapeutics plans to move its injectable obesity treatment into a Phase 3 study faster than expected, bringing the biotech closer to joining the highly competitive GLP-1 drug market.
The San Diego-based biotech previously said it was anticipating to start a Phase 2b trial of the therapy, VK2735, after getting positive results from a Phase 2 study. But after receiving feedback from regulators, the company now plans to advance directly into a Phase 3 trial, the company said Wednesday when reporting earnings.
VK2735 so far has been tested as a weekly injection, but based on pharmacokinetics data, Viking now also intends to explore monthly dosing in a future study, CEO Brian Lian said on an earnings call. If the treatment can still achieve high efficacy with a monthly regimen, that would make it more attractive than the existing weekly GLP-1 drugs on the market like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound.
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus daily coverage and analysis of the biotech sector — by subscribing to STAT+.
Already have an account? Log in
Already have an account? Log in
About the Author Reprints
To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page.
STAT encourages you to share your voice. We welcome your commentary, criticism, and expertise on our subscriber-only platform, STAT+ Connect