Losing over 8% of your weight in less than a month. That’s the promise of a pill being tested in the laboratories of US company Viking Therapeutics, which achieved a record performance on the Nasdaq after announcing new results on the drug candidate presented at Obesity Week 2024, the annual Obesity meeting. The company is currently located in San Antonio, Texas.

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The new drug

The new anti-obesity drug mimics the action of the two gut hormones Glp-1 and Gip, and it doesn’t yet have a name, just a code: VK2735. It is being studied both as a subcutaneous injection, the same formula as successful predecessors such as the anti-diabetic Ozempic* and its obesity version Wegovy*, and in tablet form. For both, Viking presented new data at the US congress in two posters, but particular attention was drawn to that of VK2735 in pill form.

Treated patients

In the Mad study, with the small size typical of a phase 1 clinical trial, the drug produced dose-dependent weight reductions over 28 days of up to -8.2% compared to baseline (-6.8% compared to placebo) at maximum dose tested, equal. at 100 milligrams per day. Up to 100% of patients treated with VK2735 achieved weight loss of 5% or more, and persistent weight loss effects (up to -8.3% from baseline) were also seen in 57th follow-up day, 4 weeks. after taking the last pill. Based on a preliminary evaluation of weight loss trajectories at different doses, Viking believes that continued treatment beyond 28 days could lead to additional weight reductions. The company also foresees the possibility of maintenance regimens with reduced doses of the active ingredient.

Side effects

In the update of the Mad study, VK2735 in pill form confirmed its safety and tolerability profile, even after 28 days at a daily dose of 100 mg. 99% of side effects reported so far have been mild (90%) or moderate, according to a note. Similarly, all observed gastrointestinal adverse events were described as mild (84%) or moderate.