• Viking Therapeutics (NasdaqCM:VKTX) is advancing its lead obesity therapy VK2735 through rapidly progressing Phase 3 trials.
• The company is running late stage studies for both subcutaneous and planned oral formulations of VK2735.
• Viking is preparing an IND filing for a new amylin agonist candidate to broaden its obesity treatment pipeline.
• A recently signed manufacturing agreement and the appointment of a Chief Commercial Officer point to preparation for potential commercialization.

Viking Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotech focused on metabolic and endocrine disorders, is leaning into obesity treatments at a time when interest in weight loss drugs is high across healthcare and consumer markets. With VK2735 moving through Phase 3 for injectable use and oral studies planned, the company is positioning itself across multiple treatment formats that may appeal to different patient preferences.

The planned IND for an amylin agonist, along with new commercial leadership and manufacturing arrangements, suggests Viking is building out both its product lineup and its go to market capabilities. For investors tracking NasdaqCM:VKTX, these developments frame the company as one that is shifting from being purely research focused toward preparing for potential launches if its programs achieve regulatory approvals.

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The latest update on VK2735 and the planned amylin agonist IND shows Viking pushing to build a broader obesity platform rather than a single product. The rapid Phase 3 progress for injectable VK2735, preparations for oral Phase 3, and a maintenance dosing study give the company multiple shots on goal in a market that already includes large-cap players such as Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. The CordenPharma manufacturing deal and the appointment of a Chief Commercial Officer suggest Viking wants to be ready if any of these programs move toward approval, instead of waiting to put commercial pieces in place later. At the same time, the full year 2025 net loss of US$359.64 million, with no meaningful revenue, underlines how dependent the story is on successful trial outcomes and future partnering or commercialization to justify this level of spending. For you as an investor, this news highlights a classic high risk, high potential biotech setup, where clinical execution, regulatory decisions and competitive dynamics will be key swing factors.

The Risks and Rewards Investors Should Consider

• ⚠️ Viking reported a full year 2025 net loss of US$359.64 million with basic loss per share of US$3.19 and currently makes less than US$1m in revenue, so the business is heavily dependent on external funding and future product success.
• ⚠️ Analysts have flagged that Viking is unprofitable and not forecast to become profitable over the next 3 years, and there has been significant insider selling over the past 3 months, which some investors may view as a caution signal.
• 🎁 VK2735 is in late stage obesity trials across injectable, autoinjector and planned oral formats, supported by a manufacturing agreement with CordenPharma and a new Chief Commercial Officer, giving Viking multiple potential routes to commercialize if trials and regulators eventually cooperate.
• 🎁 Management is expanding the obesity pipeline with an IND filing planned for an amylin agonist, which, if it progresses, could add a second mechanism in the same therapeutic area and reduce reliance on a single asset.

What To Watch Going Forward

From here, you will want to track several milestones closely. First, progress and data readouts from the Phase 3 VANQUISH program for injectable VK2735, including the planned introduction of the autoinjector format. Second, timing and design of the Phase 3 program for oral VK2735 and results from the maintenance dosing study, which will shape how competitive Viking may be versus existing obesity drugs from larger peers. Third, whether the IND for the amylin agonist is filed as planned and moves into early human trials. Finally, keep an eye on cash burn, financing decisions and any partnership or co commercial deals, as these will influence how Viking funds this expanded development plan.

To stay informed about how the latest news may affect the investment narrative for Viking Therapeutics, head to the community page for Viking Therapeutics for updates on the top community narratives.

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