Here's Why Viking Therapeutics Bounced Back Today
Shares of Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) rose by almost 10% at 11 a.m. ET today. This follows a significant fall the previous day on the release of its eagerly awaited top-line results from a phase 2 trial of its weight loss drug VK2735 in oral form. The oral formulation offers convenience over subcutaneous (injected) formulations.
The phase 2 results were successful in weight loss reduction, but less so in safety and tolerability. In comparison, a phase 3 trial for pharma giant Eli Lilly's (NYSE: LLY) orforglipron in weight loss resulted in a mean percentage weight loss of 7.8% at the lowest dosage to 12.4% at the highest dosage. Meanwhile, the VK2735 phase 2 ranged from a mean reduction of 2.3% to 12.2% at the highest dosage.
The key difference is that the discontinuation rate due to adverse effects in Eli Lilly's phase 3 trial was 10.3% at the highest dosage, compared to 20% overall in the Viking phase 2 trial.
Source Fool.com
