Viking drug maintains up to 97% weight loss on less frequent dosing

Viking Therapeutics released top-line VK2735 maintenance results on Sep 22, 2026. After 21 weeks of weekly dosing in 180 adults with BMI ≥30, every-other-week regimens retained 83% to 97% of prior weight loss at week 33 and monthly regimens 82% to 90%, versus 61% after a switch to placebo. A continued 17.5 mg weekly group reached 21.7% weight loss from baseline (22% placebo-adjusted) with no plateau. Weekly induction had produced 16% to 19% loss versus about 0% on placebo. Shares rose sharply. Truist analyst Gregory Renza said, "Tolerability came in clean, which we view as the piece that de-risks the step-down construct," adding GI events in maintenance were not meaningfully different from placebo, with vomiting in the single digits and no moderate or severe nausea. CEO Brian Lian discussed study design, dose-selection uncertainty, and FDA feedback. Dr. Lou Aronne said less frequent dosing could help treatment persistence and cautioned about limits of cross-trial comparison. CONTESTED: TipRanks, Yahoo Finance, and Schaeffer's Research put the VKTX rise at 23%, 26%, and 28%; trial figures are single-sourced company top-line with no dispute in the record. Extension dose selection remains open pending FDA feedback. Viking plans oral maintenance dosing alongside injectable development.