Viking Therapeutics CEO Highlights Broad Strategic Interest in Weight-Loss Drug Deals, Shares Surge 17%
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 14 2026
0mins
Source: stocktwits
- Stock Surge: Shares of Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) surged 17% on Wednesday, reflecting strong market interest in its weight-loss drug development, particularly as Novo Nordisk (NVO) seeks acquisitions to enhance its drug portfolio.
- M&A Activity: Novo Nordisk halted its $10 billion bid for the smaller obesity drugmaker Metsera, but successfully acquired Akero Therapeutics for up to $5.2 billion in December, indicating its aggressive strategy in the obesity drug market.
- Clinical Trial Progress: Viking's lead candidate VK2735 demonstrated a significant average weight loss of 14.7% over 13 weeks in mid-stage trials, showcasing its potential in obesity treatment, with ongoing studies for an oral formulation of the drug.
- Market Sentiment: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around VKTX remained in the 'extremely bullish' territory, with message volume rising from 'high' to 'extremely high', as speculation grew about Novo potentially acquiring Viking for around $10 billion, which would represent substantial upside from its current near $4 billion market cap.
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Analyst Views on NVO
Wall Street analysts forecast NVO stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for NVO is 54.67 USD with a low forecast of 42.00 USD and a high forecast of 70.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
8 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
3 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 60.330
Low
42.00
Averages
54.67
High
70.00
Current: 60.330
Low
42.00
Averages
54.67
High
70.00
About NVO
Novo Nordisk A/S is a global healthcare company engaged in diabetes care. The Company is also engaged in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products. The Company operates through two business segments: diabetes and obesity care, and biopharmaceuticals. The Company's diabetes and obesity care segment covers insulin, GLP-1, other protein-related products, such as glucagon, protein-related delivery systems and needles, and oral anti-diabetic drugs. The Company's biopharmaceuticals segment covers the therapy areas of hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. The Company also offers Saxenda product to treat obesity. It offers a range of products, including NovoLog/NovoRapid; NovoLog Mix/NovoMix; Prandin/NovoNorm; NovoSeven; Norditropin, and Vagifem. As of December 31, 2016, it marketed its products in over 180 countries. Its regional structure consists of two commercial units: North America and International Operations.
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.
FDA Approves Novo Nordisk's New Weight Management Pill
- Clinical Trial Results: In the global OASIS 4 clinical trial, patients achieved an average weight loss of 16.6%, demonstrating the drug's significant efficacy in weight management, which is expected to attract more patients seeking treatment and enhance Novo Nordisk's market share.
- Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: The drug is also approved to lower cardiovascular event risks in heart disease patients, with data showing approximately a 20% reduction in risk, which not only enhances the therapeutic value but also opens new market opportunities for Novo Nordisk in heart health.
- Market Launch Plans: Novo Nordisk plans to launch the drug in the U.S. in January 2026, marking it as the first oral GLP-1 treatment, which is expected to change patient acceptance of weight loss medications and further solidify the company's leadership in the obesity treatment market.
- Global Obesity Challenge: With rising global obesity rates, particularly in Indonesia at 23.4%, Novo Nordisk's innovative drug provides a new solution to this public health crisis, highlighting the company's responsibility and mission in global health management.
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Novo Nordisk Stock Rebounds, Optimistic Outlook Ahead
- Stock Recovery: Novo Nordisk's stock has surged 25% year-to-date in 2026, indicating a strong rebound from a 42% decline in 2025, reflecting renewed market confidence in its growth prospects.
- Prescription Surge: Prescriptions for the oral version of Wegovy skyrocketed to 20,392 last week, more than quadrupling the previous week's rate and significantly exceeding Bank of America's target of 2,000 prescriptions per week, showcasing robust consumer demand for the new formulation.
- Market Expansion Potential: Currently available only in the U.S., the Wegovy pill could see stock price boosts if other countries, such as the UK, approve it, thereby expanding Novo Nordisk's market share and sales channels.
- Sustained Competitive Edge: Despite the popularity of the oral version, prescriptions for the injectable form remain steady, indicating no significant market cannibalization, which may enhance the company's competitive position through a diversified product line.
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