Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) Surges on Strong VK2735 Obesity Drug Data
- Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) surged after new VK2735 data showed strong weight-loss maintenance with less frequent dosing.
- VK2735 produced about 16% to 19% weight loss after 21 weeks, with some longer-duration results showing even higher reductions.
- The stock jumped 35.6% to $40.85, with trading volume above 40.9 million shares.
Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for metabolic and endocrine diseases. Its lead obesity candidate, VK2735, is a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, placing it in the same broad weight-loss drug category as leading therapies from Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO).
On September 22, 2026, Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) rallied after reporting promising maintenance data for VK2735. Patients who switched from weekly dosing to every-other-week dosing maintained up to 97% of their prior weight loss, while monthly dosing maintained up to 90%. This matters because less frequent injections could improve convenience and long-term adherence.
Earlier VK2735 data showed weight loss of about 16% to 19% after 21 weeks, with no clear plateau. Those results support investor optimism that VK2735 could become a competitive obesity treatment if later-stage trials confirm its efficacy and safety profile.
The market reaction was strong. Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) rose 35.6% to $40.85, with volume of about 40.9 million shares. The company’s market capitalization is now approximately $4.75 billion.
Oppenheimer raised its price target on Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) to $120 from $100, reflecting confidence in VK2735’s commercial potential, though the drug still faces clinical, regulatory, and competitive risks.
