Viking Therapeutics plans to advance oral obesity drug to late-stage testing

Viking Therapeutics announced plans to move its experimental oral obesity drug, VK2735, into late-stage trials in the third quarter of this year, causing its shares to rise. The company believes its dual oral and injectable formulations using the same active ingredient will differentiate it from rivals, and its CEO noted promising initial uptake for other oral obesity peptides. Viking holds $706 million in cash, which it states is sufficient to complete these trials and pursue further development.