Viking Therapeutics Stock Swings Wildly After Weight-Loss Drug Data
Viking Therapeutics stock is volatile Monday after the pharma company released positive data for its weight-loss drug. Here's what you need to know.


Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) stock jumped 6% out of the gate Monday, but was last seen notably lower. The volatility comes after the biopharmaceutical company reported positive new clinical data for its weight-loss pill, VK2735.
The data released by Viking showed that adults taking the highest dosage of the oral VK2735 tablet lost an average of 8.2% of their body weight in just four weeks, or 6.8% more than those that received a placebo.
"We believe the VENTURE data demonstrate VK2735's promising efficacy and tolerability profile through 13 weeks of weekly dosing and support our belief that less frequent dosing regimens may provide effective maintenance of weight control," said Viking CEO Brian Lian, Ph.D., in a statement.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
"The updated oral Phase 1 study results continue to demonstrate an encouraging tolerability profile and promising signs of clinical activity at doses of up to 100 milligrams daily," the executive added. "We believe the durable effects observed following 28 days of dosing suggest potential opportunities to introduce lower dose regimens following an initial induction of weight loss."
Lian noted that Viking plans to move forward on the clinical path with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later this year for an injectable version of VK2735 and that they expect to initiate a Phase 2 study of the oral tablet formation by the end of the fourth quarter.
Is Viking Therapeutics stock a buy, sell or hold?
It's been a volatile year for Viking Therapeutics stock, though good news on the weight-loss-drug front has the healthcare stock up 260% since the start of January. And Wall Street sees even more upside for VKTX.
According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the consensus analyst target price for the mid-cap stock is $112.85, representing implied upside of nearly 55% to current levels. Additionally, the consensus recommendation is Strong Buy.
Financial services firm William Blair has an Outperform rating (equivalent to a Buy) on VKTX and gives it a current fair value of $96 per share.
"From a competitive advantage perspective, VK2735's status as a Phase III-ready asset, coupled with the ability to formulate into an oral route of administration (tablet formulation), along with an amylin program that is on track to enter Phase I development next year, offers a unique set of attractive characteristics in the lens of big pharma," says William Blair analyst Andy Hsieh.
The analyst acknowledges that it is "risky to base our investment thesis on an eventual takeout, the prospect is reasonably high given Viking's clinical differentiation, combined with the large total addressable market of chronic metabolic conditions."
Related content
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Joey Solitro is a freelance financial journalist at Kiplinger with more than a decade of experience. A longtime equity analyst, Joey has covered a range of industries for media outlets including The Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Market Realist, and TipRanks. Joey holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.
-
46 Anti-Prime Day Tech Deals You Should Get from Best Buy's Black Friday in July Sale Instead
Apple, Blink, Garmin, Samsung and more leading tech brands are on sale at Best Buy's rival Prime Day sale this week.
-
Stock Market Today: Trump Reextends His Tariff Deadline
When it comes to this president, his trade war, the economy, financial markets and uncertainty, "known unknowns" are better than "unknown unknowns."
-
Stock Market Today: Trump Reextends His Tariff Deadline
When it comes to this president, his trade war, the economy, financial markets and uncertainty, "known unknowns" are better than "unknown unknowns."
-
Should You Start a 'Trump Account' for Your Child?
"Trump Accounts" for kids is part of the One Big, Beautiful Bill that was just signed. Look at if it's worth it for your children.
-
I'm a Financial Strategist: This Is the Investment Trap That Keeps Smart Investors on the Sidelines
Forget FOMO. FOGI — Fear of Getting In — is the feeling you need to learn how to manage so you don't miss out on future investment gains.
-
Can You Be a Good Parent to an Only Child When You're Also a Business Owner?
Author and social psychologist Susan Newman offers advice to business-owner parents on how to raise a well-adjusted single child by avoiding overcompensation and encouraging chores.
-
How Advisers Can Steer Their Clients Through Market Volatility (and Strengthen Their Relationships)
Financial advisers need to be strategic when they communicate with clients during market volatility. The goal is to not only reassure them but to also help them avoid rash decisions, deepen your relationship with them and build lasting trust.
-
Stock Market Today: President Trump Reboots the Tariff Trade
A broad consensus that markets hate uncertainty more than anything else is being tested on an almost daily basis in 2025.
-
The 60-40 Portfolio Rule of Investing: Not Dead Yet?
Adding alternative investments to a balanced portfolio can smooth out returns.
-
The Hidden Costs of Caregiving: Crisis Goes Well Beyond Financial Issues
Many caregivers are drained emotionally as well as financially, leading to depression, burnout and depleted retirement prospects. What's to be done?