VKTX.O Hits 5-Day Low Amid Enrollment News
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 28 2024
0mins
Should l Buy VKTX?
Source: SeekingAlpha
Shares of Viking Therapeutics (VKTX.O) declined today, hitting a 5-day low as the stock reacted to mixed market conditions. The recent completion of patient enrollment for the Phase 3 VANQUISH-1 clinical trial of VK2735, a dual agonist aimed at treating obesity, failed to bolster investor confidence. Despite positive results from earlier studies, the stock's performance has been underwhelming, down 5.6% year-to-date, significantly trailing the S&P 500. Additionally, the liquidation of 189,593 shares by 5AM Venture Management, reducing their stake to zero, has raised concerns among investors, although this move is interpreted as a rebalancing strategy rather than a lack of faith in Viking's drug development. As the market continues to digest these developments, investors are reminded of the inherent volatility associated with clinical-stage biopharmaceuticals.
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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: 30.450
Low
70.00
Averages
97.00
High
125.00
Current: 30.450
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 Therapeutics Targets Weight Loss Drug Market Growth
- Clinical Trial Progress: Viking Therapeutics is advancing its VK2735 candidate in a phase 3 trial for the injectable format while planning to initiate a phase 3 trial for the oral format in Q3 this year, marking a proactive approach in the weight loss drug market that could establish a competitive foundation for future growth.
- Significant Market Potential: Analysts project that the obesity drug market could reach nearly $100 billion by 2030, providing ample growth opportunities for newcomers like Viking, especially as demand for GLP-1 drugs continues to rise.
- Diversified Product Pipeline: Viking plans to file a request to initiate clinical trials for another dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist in Q1, demonstrating the company's strategy to diversify its weight loss drug development to cater to various patient needs.
- Investment Risk Consideration: While Viking's candidate shows promising data, investors should cautiously assess risks since the company has no products on the market yet, and uncertainty may persist until clinical trial outcomes are confirmed.
See More
U.S. Markets Volatile as Investor Sentiment Turns Cautious
- Positive Job Data: Recent U.S. employment figures indicate a rise in new jobs, and while inflation eases, the overall market remains volatile, reflecting investor concerns about future economic prospects that could impact stock performance.
- Mixed Industry Results: Automakers reported mixed earnings, with some industrial stocks outperforming the broader market; however, overall equity demand remains capped, indicating a growing risk-off sentiment among investors.
- AI Panic Trade: The launch of a new freight efficiency platform by an AI firm has spooked markets, leading to sharp declines in traditionally resilient trucking and logistics stocks, as fears grow over the vulnerability of labor-intensive business models to automation.
- Real Estate Impacted: The real estate sector and other old-economy industries have also been hit, as traders express unease over potential AI-driven disruptions, further exacerbating market uncertainty.
See More
Doseology Sciences Launches New Energy Product Line
- Market Trend Analysis: The global health and wellness sector is projected to reach $6 trillion in consumer spending by 2026, driven by rising demand for functional products, compelling companies to adapt to the FDA's updated 'Healthy' labeling framework to meet market needs.
- New Product Launch: Doseology Sciences launched caffeine-based energy pouches in January 2026, marking the entry of its Feed That Brain brand into the rapidly growing oral pouch market, utilizing a sugar-free, non-carbonated, portable design to cater to consumer demand for healthier alternatives.
- Strategic Acquisition: Doseology acquired the Feed That Brain brand for $400,000 in August 2025, enhancing its competitive edge in the functional product space, while also appointing Joseph Mimran as a strategic advisor to further bolster brand influence.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: The global energy drinks market is expected to grow from $79.4 billion in 2024 to $125.1 billion by 2030, indicating strong market demand, and Doseology's product innovations align perfectly with this trend, likely driving future company growth.
See More
Doseology Sciences Launches New Energy Product Line
- Market Trend Analysis: The global health and wellness sector is projected to reach $6 trillion in consumer spending by 2026, driven by rising demand for functional products, compelling companies to adapt to the FDA's new labeling framework to meet consumer preferences for sugar-free and preservative-free options, thereby enhancing market competitiveness.
- New Product Launch: Doseology Sciences initiated pilot production of caffeine-based energy pouches in January 2026, marking the entry of its Feed That Brain brand into the rapidly growing oral pouch market, which is expected to attract consumers seeking portable energy supplements.
- Strategic Acquisition: Doseology acquired the Feed That Brain brand for $400,000 in August 2025, leveraging its strengths in functional product design to drive compliant new product development and further expand market share.
- Market Potential: The global energy drinks market is expected to grow from $79.4 billion in 2024 to $125.1 billion by 2030, indicating strong market demand, and Doseology's product innovations align perfectly with this trend, likely driving future growth for the company.
See More
Viking Therapeutics' VK2735 Sees Strong Demand Amid Novo Nordisk Launch
- Strong Market Demand: Since its U.S. launch in early January, Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy has seen weekly prescription fills reach 50,000, indicating robust demand for oral GLP-1 therapies, which bodes well for Viking Therapeutics' VK2735 as it positions itself to capture significant market opportunities.
- Clinical Trial Progress: Viking plans to initiate Phase 3 trials for VK2735 in Q3 2026, with encouraging mid-stage data showing patients lost up to 12.2% of their body weight in just 13 weeks, providing strong support for the drug's market potential.
- Solid Financial Position: Viking reported a Q4 2025 loss of $1.38 per share due to increased R&D spending, with full-year expenses rising to $345 million; however, the company ended the year with $706 million in cash and short-term investments, sufficient to fund ongoing trials and data readouts.
- Optimistic Investor Sentiment: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for VKTX is bullish with extremely high message volume, as investors are optimistic that the upcoming maintenance dosing trial will provide a good opportunity to re-rate the stock price upward, reflecting confidence in the company's future performance.
See More
U.S. Stocks Plunge as Tech Sector Weighs Down Market
- Tech Sector Retreat: U.S. stocks experienced a significant decline on Thursday, with the S&P 500 down 1.57%, the Dow Jones down 1.34%, and the Nasdaq 100 down 2.04%, primarily driven by a sell-off in the Magnificent Seven tech stocks, indicating concerns over the profitability outlook in the tech sector.
- Cisco Systems Warning: Cisco Systems saw its stock plummet over 12% after forecasting that rising memory chip prices would erode profitability, raising investor concerns about future performance and potentially diminishing market confidence.
- Weak Economic Data: Initial jobless claims in the U.S. fell by 5,000 to 227,000, below the expected 223,000, while January existing home sales dropped 8.4% month-over-month to 3.91 million, marking a 16-month low, which reflects signs of economic slowdown that could impact market sentiment.
- Positive Earnings Season: Despite the overall market downturn, over 76% of S&P 500 companies that reported earnings exceeded expectations, with Q4 earnings projected to grow by 8.4%, indicating strong corporate profitability that may provide support for the market.
See More
Viking Therapeutics Targets Weight Loss Drug Market Growth
- Clinical Trial Progress: Viking Therapeutics is advancing its VK2735 candidate in a phase 3 trial for the injectable format while planning to initiate a phase 3 trial for the oral format in Q3 this year, marking a proactive approach in the weight loss drug market that could establish a competitive foundation for future growth.
- Significant Market Potential: Analysts project that the obesity drug market could reach nearly $100 billion by 2030, providing ample growth opportunities for newcomers like Viking, especially as demand for GLP-1 drugs continues to rise.
- Diversified Product Pipeline: Viking plans to file a request to initiate clinical trials for another dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist in Q1, demonstrating the company's strategy to diversify its weight loss drug development to cater to various patient needs.
- Investment Risk Consideration: While Viking's candidate shows promising data, investors should cautiously assess risks since the company has no products on the market yet, and uncertainty may persist until clinical trial outcomes are confirmed.
See More
U.S. Markets Volatile as Investor Sentiment Turns Cautious
- Positive Job Data: Recent U.S. employment figures indicate a rise in new jobs, and while inflation eases, the overall market remains volatile, reflecting investor concerns about future economic prospects that could impact stock performance.
- Mixed Industry Results: Automakers reported mixed earnings, with some industrial stocks outperforming the broader market; however, overall equity demand remains capped, indicating a growing risk-off sentiment among investors.
- AI Panic Trade: The launch of a new freight efficiency platform by an AI firm has spooked markets, leading to sharp declines in traditionally resilient trucking and logistics stocks, as fears grow over the vulnerability of labor-intensive business models to automation.
- Real Estate Impacted: The real estate sector and other old-economy industries have also been hit, as traders express unease over potential AI-driven disruptions, further exacerbating market uncertainty.
See More
Doseology Sciences Launches New Energy Product Line
- Market Trend Analysis: The global health and wellness sector is projected to reach $6 trillion in consumer spending by 2026, driven by rising demand for functional products, compelling companies to adapt to the FDA's updated 'Healthy' labeling framework to meet market needs.
- New Product Launch: Doseology Sciences launched caffeine-based energy pouches in January 2026, marking the entry of its Feed That Brain brand into the rapidly growing oral pouch market, utilizing a sugar-free, non-carbonated, portable design to cater to consumer demand for healthier alternatives.
- Strategic Acquisition: Doseology acquired the Feed That Brain brand for $400,000 in August 2025, enhancing its competitive edge in the functional product space, while also appointing Joseph Mimran as a strategic advisor to further bolster brand influence.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: The global energy drinks market is expected to grow from $79.4 billion in 2024 to $125.1 billion by 2030, indicating strong market demand, and Doseology's product innovations align perfectly with this trend, likely driving future company growth.
See More
Doseology Sciences Launches New Energy Product Line
- Market Trend Analysis: The global health and wellness sector is projected to reach $6 trillion in consumer spending by 2026, driven by rising demand for functional products, compelling companies to adapt to the FDA's new labeling framework to meet consumer preferences for sugar-free and preservative-free options, thereby enhancing market competitiveness.
- New Product Launch: Doseology Sciences initiated pilot production of caffeine-based energy pouches in January 2026, marking the entry of its Feed That Brain brand into the rapidly growing oral pouch market, which is expected to attract consumers seeking portable energy supplements.
- Strategic Acquisition: Doseology acquired the Feed That Brain brand for $400,000 in August 2025, leveraging its strengths in functional product design to drive compliant new product development and further expand market share.
- Market Potential: The global energy drinks market is expected to grow from $79.4 billion in 2024 to $125.1 billion by 2030, indicating strong market demand, and Doseology's product innovations align perfectly with this trend, likely driving future growth for the company.
See More
Viking Therapeutics' VK2735 Sees Strong Demand Amid Novo Nordisk Launch
- Strong Market Demand: Since its U.S. launch in early January, Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy has seen weekly prescription fills reach 50,000, indicating robust demand for oral GLP-1 therapies, which bodes well for Viking Therapeutics' VK2735 as it positions itself to capture significant market opportunities.
- Clinical Trial Progress: Viking plans to initiate Phase 3 trials for VK2735 in Q3 2026, with encouraging mid-stage data showing patients lost up to 12.2% of their body weight in just 13 weeks, providing strong support for the drug's market potential.
- Solid Financial Position: Viking reported a Q4 2025 loss of $1.38 per share due to increased R&D spending, with full-year expenses rising to $345 million; however, the company ended the year with $706 million in cash and short-term investments, sufficient to fund ongoing trials and data readouts.
- Optimistic Investor Sentiment: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for VKTX is bullish with extremely high message volume, as investors are optimistic that the upcoming maintenance dosing trial will provide a good opportunity to re-rate the stock price upward, reflecting confidence in the company's future performance.
See More
U.S. Stocks Plunge as Tech Sector Weighs Down Market
- Tech Sector Retreat: U.S. stocks experienced a significant decline on Thursday, with the S&P 500 down 1.57%, the Dow Jones down 1.34%, and the Nasdaq 100 down 2.04%, primarily driven by a sell-off in the Magnificent Seven tech stocks, indicating concerns over the profitability outlook in the tech sector.
- Cisco Systems Warning: Cisco Systems saw its stock plummet over 12% after forecasting that rising memory chip prices would erode profitability, raising investor concerns about future performance and potentially diminishing market confidence.
- Weak Economic Data: Initial jobless claims in the U.S. fell by 5,000 to 227,000, below the expected 223,000, while January existing home sales dropped 8.4% month-over-month to 3.91 million, marking a 16-month low, which reflects signs of economic slowdown that could impact market sentiment.
- Positive Earnings Season: Despite the overall market downturn, over 76% of S&P 500 companies that reported earnings exceeded expectations, with Q4 earnings projected to grow by 8.4%, indicating strong corporate profitability that may provide support for the market.
See More
