Viking Therapeutics Drug Shows Greater Weight Loss Than Lilly's in Midstage Trial; Viking Stock Soars
• Viking Therapeutics' experimental weight-loss drug VK2735 led to up to 14.7% weight loss in a midstage study, beating out Eli Lilly's Zepbound
• Viking stock skyrocketed 73% on the news, while Eli Lilly shares edged lower
• VK2735 works similarly to Zepbound, improving satiety and blood sugar markers, but was over 13% more effective
• Viking could attract a strategic partner to help compete with weight-loss leaders Lilly and Novo Nordisk
• Viking shares have surged this year ahead of the Phase 2 data; the drug still needs to pass Phase 3 testing