Eli Lilly Sets High Bar, Competitors Follow Suit
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 11 2026
0mins
Should l Buy VKTX?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Eli Lilly's Market Performance: Eli Lilly has excelled over the past decade, reaching a market cap that once exceeded $1 trillion, making it the largest healthcare stock globally, showcasing breakthroughs in its core therapeutic areas; while some may think it's too late to invest, it remains a buy opportunity.
- Potential of Viking Therapeutics: Viking Therapeutics is developing VK2735 as an effective weight loss drug, with strong phase 2 results and a phase 3 study underway, expected to yield results next year, which could significantly enhance its competitive position in the market.
- Abivax's Innovative Treatment: Abivax's candidate obefazimod targets ulcerative colitis and is set to announce maintenance study results in the second quarter; if it demonstrates sustained efficacy, it could lead to a substantial stock price increase and has the potential to generate over $1 billion in annual sales.
- High Risk, High Reward: Both Viking Therapeutics and Abivax present potential high returns, but clinical trial setbacks could severely impact their stock prices, necessitating careful risk-reward assessments by investors.
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Analyst Views on VKTX
Wall Street analysts forecast VKTX stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 32.520
Low
70.00
Averages
97.00
High
125.00
Current: 32.520
Low
70.00
Averages
97.00
High
125.00
About VKTX
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is focused on the development of therapies for the treatment of metabolic and endocrine disorders. Its clinical programs include VK2735, a novel dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptors for the potential treatment of various metabolic disorders. It is evaluating an oral formulation of VK2735 in a Phase II trial. It is also developing VK2809, a novel, orally available, small molecule selective thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist for the treatment of lipid and metabolic disorders. Its newest program is evaluating a series of internally developed dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonists for the treatment of obesity and other metabolic disorders. In the rare disease space, it is developing VK0214, a novel, orally available, small molecule selective thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist for the potential treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Viking and Structure Intensify Competition in Obesity Drug Development
- Clinical Trial Progress: Viking announced the enrollment of approximately 1,000 patients with obesity or overweight type 2 diabetes in the late-stage trial of VK2735, with a primary endpoint assessing weight change after 78 weeks, which could significantly enhance its market competitiveness if successful.
- Significant Drug Efficacy: In a mid-stage trial, VK2735 achieved a mean weight loss of 14.7% in 13 weeks, establishing a solid foundation for its subsequent clinical development and potentially attracting more investor interest.
- Market Potential: According to Koyfin, GPCR stock has a 12-month target of $109, implying a 147.95% upside, while VKTX's target is $92.72, representing a 209.80% upside, indicating strong prospects for both companies in the obesity drug market.
- Investor Sentiment Shift: While VKTX stock has risen 24% this year, GPCR has surged 154%, reflecting differing market perceptions, with VKTX sentiment remaining neutral and GPCR appearing more bearish.
See More
Viking Therapeutics: A Dark Horse in the GLP-1 Market
- Market Potential: The GLP-1 weight loss market is projected to reach annual sales of $100 billion by the next decade, presenting a significant growth opportunity for Viking Therapeutics and its VK2735 candidate, especially with the potential launch of an oral version.
- Clinical Trial Progress: The injectable version of VK2735 is currently in phase 3 clinical trials, while the oral version completed phase 2 trials last year with highly promising initial results, laying a solid foundation for future commercialization.
- Acquisition Potential: Should VK2735 achieve commercial viability, Viking could become a takeover target in the biotech sector, with acquisition offers potentially reaching three times its current $4 billion market cap, reflecting strong market expectations for its future.
- Investment Risks and Opportunities: Viking's stock presents a binary risk, where the success or failure of VK2735 will directly impact its share price; despite the high risks, the potential rewards are equally substantial, necessitating careful position sizing by investors to navigate possible volatility.
See More
Viking Therapeutics' VK2735: A Dark Horse in GLP-1 Weight Loss Market
- Significant Market Potential: The GLP-1 weight loss market is projected to reach annual sales of $100 billion by the next decade, providing Viking Therapeutics' VK2735 with substantial market opportunities, particularly with the promising results expected from its oral version's clinical trials.
- Critical Clinical Trial Phase: The injectable VK2735 is currently in phase 3 clinical trials, while the oral version's phase 2 trial completed last year with promising initial results, which will directly impact Viking's stock performance depending on the outcomes of these trials.
- Acquisition Potential: Should VK2735 achieve commercial viability, Viking's market cap of approximately $4 billion could attract acquisition offers potentially reaching three times its current valuation, highlighting its appeal as a biotech stock.
- Risks and Opportunities: While the outlook for VK2735 is optimistic, the stock carries significant volatility risks; Viking's shares once approached $100 but currently trade around $32, necessitating careful risk-reward assessment by investors.
See More
Viking Therapeutics Advances Late-Stage Clinical Trials for VK2735
- Trial Enrollment Completed: Viking announced that its late-stage clinical trial for VK2735 has enrolled approximately 1,000 patients with type 2 diabetes, aiming for significant weight loss over 78 weeks, which is expected to positively impact future drug approvals.
- Drug Development Outlook: Viking plans to advance the oral version of VK2735 into late-stage studies in Q3 2026, with CEO stating that the company will have four late-stage trials by the end of 2026, demonstrating confidence in its development pipeline.
- Market Sentiment Improvement: Viking's stock rose 3% on Thursday amid speculation of a potential buyout and FDA approval, with retail investor sentiment shifting from 'bearish' to 'neutral', indicating increased confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Competitive Advantage Analysis: VK2735 is dubbed the “Ozempic killer” and has the potential to dethrone Eli Lilly's products in the obesity drug market, while Viking also plans to file for trials of a novel amylin agonist this quarter to further expand its obesity drug portfolio.
See More
VKTX Shares Surge as Retail Investors Flock to Obesity Treatment Investments
Viking's Clinical Trial Announcement: Viking Therapeutics has announced a competition for patient enrollment in its late-stage clinical trial for the subcutaneous drug VK2735, aimed at weight loss, with plans to advance the oral version into late-stage studies by Q3 2026.
Stock Performance and Market Sentiment: Shares of Viking Therapeutics rose by 3% amid speculation of a potential buyout and positive retail sentiment, improving from 'bearish' to 'neutral' over the past 24 hours.
Trial Details and Expectations: The trial has enrolled around 1,000 patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity, focusing on the percentage change in body weight after 78 weeks of treatment, with previous trials showing significant weight loss results.
Future Developments: Viking is also looking to file an application for trials of a novel amylin agonist this quarter, as it seeks to expand its obesity portfolio, with CEO Brian Lian expressing optimism about the upcoming year.
See More
Viking Therapeutics Completes Enrollment in Phase 3 Trial for VK2735 Obesity Drug
- Phase 3 Enrollment Completed: Viking Therapeutics announced the completion of enrollment for its Phase 3 trial of VK2735, marking a significant step in its competition within the GLP-1 obesity drug market, currently dominated by Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy.
- Trial Design Details: The VANQUISH-2 study will assess the efficacy and safety of VK2735 administered via subcutaneous injection once weekly for 78 weeks, aiming to provide long-term efficacy data to support future market positioning.
- Multiple Administration Forms: Viking is developing VK2735 in both oral and subcutaneous formulations for potential treatment of metabolic disorders like obesity, which may appeal to a broader patient demographic due to the flexibility in administration options.
- Market Reaction: Despite the progress in clinical trials, Viking Therapeutics' shares fell 1% in Thursday's pre-market trading, reflecting a cautious market sentiment, particularly as retail investor sentiment trends bearish on Stocktwits.
See More
Viking and Structure Intensify Competition in Obesity Drug Development
- Clinical Trial Progress: Viking announced the enrollment of approximately 1,000 patients with obesity or overweight type 2 diabetes in the late-stage trial of VK2735, with a primary endpoint assessing weight change after 78 weeks, which could significantly enhance its market competitiveness if successful.
- Significant Drug Efficacy: In a mid-stage trial, VK2735 achieved a mean weight loss of 14.7% in 13 weeks, establishing a solid foundation for its subsequent clinical development and potentially attracting more investor interest.
- Market Potential: According to Koyfin, GPCR stock has a 12-month target of $109, implying a 147.95% upside, while VKTX's target is $92.72, representing a 209.80% upside, indicating strong prospects for both companies in the obesity drug market.
- Investor Sentiment Shift: While VKTX stock has risen 24% this year, GPCR has surged 154%, reflecting differing market perceptions, with VKTX sentiment remaining neutral and GPCR appearing more bearish.
See More
Viking Therapeutics: A Dark Horse in the GLP-1 Market
- Market Potential: The GLP-1 weight loss market is projected to reach annual sales of $100 billion by the next decade, presenting a significant growth opportunity for Viking Therapeutics and its VK2735 candidate, especially with the potential launch of an oral version.
- Clinical Trial Progress: The injectable version of VK2735 is currently in phase 3 clinical trials, while the oral version completed phase 2 trials last year with highly promising initial results, laying a solid foundation for future commercialization.
- Acquisition Potential: Should VK2735 achieve commercial viability, Viking could become a takeover target in the biotech sector, with acquisition offers potentially reaching three times its current $4 billion market cap, reflecting strong market expectations for its future.
- Investment Risks and Opportunities: Viking's stock presents a binary risk, where the success or failure of VK2735 will directly impact its share price; despite the high risks, the potential rewards are equally substantial, necessitating careful position sizing by investors to navigate possible volatility.
See More
Viking Therapeutics' VK2735: A Dark Horse in GLP-1 Weight Loss Market
- Significant Market Potential: The GLP-1 weight loss market is projected to reach annual sales of $100 billion by the next decade, providing Viking Therapeutics' VK2735 with substantial market opportunities, particularly with the promising results expected from its oral version's clinical trials.
- Critical Clinical Trial Phase: The injectable VK2735 is currently in phase 3 clinical trials, while the oral version's phase 2 trial completed last year with promising initial results, which will directly impact Viking's stock performance depending on the outcomes of these trials.
- Acquisition Potential: Should VK2735 achieve commercial viability, Viking's market cap of approximately $4 billion could attract acquisition offers potentially reaching three times its current valuation, highlighting its appeal as a biotech stock.
- Risks and Opportunities: While the outlook for VK2735 is optimistic, the stock carries significant volatility risks; Viking's shares once approached $100 but currently trade around $32, necessitating careful risk-reward assessment by investors.
See More
Viking Therapeutics Advances Late-Stage Clinical Trials for VK2735
- Trial Enrollment Completed: Viking announced that its late-stage clinical trial for VK2735 has enrolled approximately 1,000 patients with type 2 diabetes, aiming for significant weight loss over 78 weeks, which is expected to positively impact future drug approvals.
- Drug Development Outlook: Viking plans to advance the oral version of VK2735 into late-stage studies in Q3 2026, with CEO stating that the company will have four late-stage trials by the end of 2026, demonstrating confidence in its development pipeline.
- Market Sentiment Improvement: Viking's stock rose 3% on Thursday amid speculation of a potential buyout and FDA approval, with retail investor sentiment shifting from 'bearish' to 'neutral', indicating increased confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Competitive Advantage Analysis: VK2735 is dubbed the “Ozempic killer” and has the potential to dethrone Eli Lilly's products in the obesity drug market, while Viking also plans to file for trials of a novel amylin agonist this quarter to further expand its obesity drug portfolio.
See More
VKTX Shares Surge as Retail Investors Flock to Obesity Treatment Investments
Viking's Clinical Trial Announcement: Viking Therapeutics has announced a competition for patient enrollment in its late-stage clinical trial for the subcutaneous drug VK2735, aimed at weight loss, with plans to advance the oral version into late-stage studies by Q3 2026.
Stock Performance and Market Sentiment: Shares of Viking Therapeutics rose by 3% amid speculation of a potential buyout and positive retail sentiment, improving from 'bearish' to 'neutral' over the past 24 hours.
Trial Details and Expectations: The trial has enrolled around 1,000 patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity, focusing on the percentage change in body weight after 78 weeks of treatment, with previous trials showing significant weight loss results.
Future Developments: Viking is also looking to file an application for trials of a novel amylin agonist this quarter, as it seeks to expand its obesity portfolio, with CEO Brian Lian expressing optimism about the upcoming year.
See More
Viking Therapeutics Completes Enrollment in Phase 3 Trial for VK2735 Obesity Drug
- Phase 3 Enrollment Completed: Viking Therapeutics announced the completion of enrollment for its Phase 3 trial of VK2735, marking a significant step in its competition within the GLP-1 obesity drug market, currently dominated by Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy.
- Trial Design Details: The VANQUISH-2 study will assess the efficacy and safety of VK2735 administered via subcutaneous injection once weekly for 78 weeks, aiming to provide long-term efficacy data to support future market positioning.
- Multiple Administration Forms: Viking is developing VK2735 in both oral and subcutaneous formulations for potential treatment of metabolic disorders like obesity, which may appeal to a broader patient demographic due to the flexibility in administration options.
- Market Reaction: Despite the progress in clinical trials, Viking Therapeutics' shares fell 1% in Thursday's pre-market trading, reflecting a cautious market sentiment, particularly as retail investor sentiment trends bearish on Stocktwits.
See More
