Viking Therapeutics completes enrollment in Phase 2 trial of VK2735

Viking Therapeutics completed patient enrollment in its Phase 2 clinical trial of VK2735, the company’s wholly-owned dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptors. VK2735 is in development for the potential treatment of various metabolic disorders such as obesity. Viking expects to report data from the study in the first half of 2024. The Phase 2 VENTURE trial is intended to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and weight loss efficacy of VK2735, administered subcutaneously, once weekly. The primary endpoint of the study will assess the percent change in body weight from baseline to Week 13 among patients treated with VK2735 as compared with placebo, with secondary and exploratory endpoints evaluating a range of additional safety and efficacy measures. Viking previously reported positive results from a Phase 1 clinical trial of VK2735 in healthy volunteers with a BMI greater than or equal to 30. In the SAD portion of the study, VK2735 demonstrated promising safety and tolerability, as well as a predictable pharmacokinetic profile. In the 28-day MAD portion of the study, VK2735 was well-tolerated and showed positive signs of clinical activity. All MAD cohorts receiving VK2735 experienced reductions in mean body weight from baseline, ranging up to 7.8%. Though limited in sample size, these results may indicate VK2735’s potential benefit in patients with various forms of fatty liver disease. The company believes that the tolerability data from the Phase 1 study indicate that higher doses may be achieved with longer titration windows.