Viking Therapeutics Reports Positive Early Trial Results for Oral Weight-Loss Drug

Viking Therapeutics reported positive early phase 1 results for its oral weight-loss drug, with up to 5.3% weight loss in patients after 28 days.

The pill showed no safety issues and most side effects were mild, differentiating it from current injectable market leaders.

The oral GLP-1 drug helps slow digestion and increase insulin to result in weight loss.

Viking will launch the drug into phase 2 trials later this year after "a clear win" in phase 1.

The oral drug aims to compete with Eli Lilly's and Novo Nordisk's leading injectable drugs, as there are no current oral market leaders.