Viking Therapeutics shared promising clinical data from the company's VK2735 obesity program at ObesityWeek 2024, highlighting both its tablet and subcutaneous formulations.
VK2735 is a dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors being developed for the potential treatment of various metabolic disorders.
In one poster presentation, Viking shared new data from the company's phase 1 multiple ascending dose clinical trial of an oral tablet formulation of VK2735 dosed daily for 28 days, including results for the study's 60 mg, 80 mg, and 100 mg daily treatment cohorts. Participants experienced up to 6.8% placebo-adjusted mean weight loss (8.2% weight loss from baseline) after 28 days of dosing with the oral tablet. Viking believes that, based on a preliminary evaluation of weight loss trajectories at multiple dose levels, continued treatment beyond 28 days may provide further reductions in body weight.
The second poster presentation highlighted follow-up results from the Viking's 13-week phase 2 VENTURE clinical trial of VK2735, dosed as a subcutaneous injection, demonstrating the treatment's longer-term maintenance effects and pharmacokinetic information. Follow-up assessments seven weeks after administration of the final dose demonstrated continued maintenance effects, with over 80% of the original weight loss maintained in the subset of patients assessed for pharmacokinetic measures. Viking believes the results support the feasibility of once-monthly dosing in the maintenance setting.
Viking plans to discuss the clinical path forward for injectable VK2735 with the FDA later this quarter and expects to initiate a phase 2 study of the oral tablet formulation by the end of the year.