Viking Therapeutics

About Viking Therapeutics

Viking Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company publicly traded on NASDAQ (VKTX), was established in 2012. The company was founded by Brian Lian, who has served as President and CEO since its inception. Lian's background uniquely combines scientific research and financial analysis; prior to founding Viking, he was a research scientist in small molecule drug discovery at Amgen and later served as a senior biotechnology analyst at firms like SunTrust Robinson Humphrey and CIBC World Markets. This dual expertise in science and finance has shaped the company's strategy.

Viking Therapeutics operates on a business model typical for a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm, meaning it does not yet generate revenue from product sales. Its substantial market valuation is based on the potential of its drug pipeline. The company's financial strategy relies on raising capital through public markets and strategic partnerships to fund its extensive research and development programs. For example, the company has raised significant funds through follow-on offerings to finance its clinical trials. As a clinical-stage entity, Viking's primary focus is on advancing its therapeutic candidates through the rigorous phases of clinical trials to eventually gain regulatory approval and commercialize its products. The company's operations are capital-intensive, with R&D expenses forming the bulk of its expenditures.

The company's core mission is the development of therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders, with a particular focus on obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), previously known as NASH. Viking's pipeline features several drug candidates. The lead candidate, VK2735, is a dual agonist of GLP-1 and GIP receptors designed to treat metabolic disorders like obesity. Clinical trials for a subcutaneous injection of VK2735 have shown promising weight loss results, and the company is also developing an oral tablet version. Another key asset is VK2809, an orally available small molecule aimed at treating MASH and lipid disorders. Phase 2b trials for VK2809 demonstrated significant reductions in liver fat. Additionally, Viking's pipeline includes VK0214 for the rare disease X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) and an early-stage program for a dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist (DACRA) also targeting obesity.