Viking Therapeutics’ obesity drug VK2735 could rival Eli Lilly’s Tirzepatide, says GlobalData

New Delhi: The obesity drug market is poised for further expansion, with Viking Therapeutics’ new candidate VK2735 potentially emerging as a major player.

GlobalData has highlighted VK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, as a promising competitor to Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro/Zepbound (tirzepatide). 

Viking Therapeutics has been developing VK2735, which is designed to treat obesity through both weekly subcutaneous injections and an oral tablet form. Phase IIa results published in February show that VK2735 achieved substantial weight loss in patients over 13 weeks. Patients receiving once-weekly subcutaneous injections experienced average weight losses of 9.2kg, 10.7kg, 13.3kg, and 14.6kg across the 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, and 15mg dosing groups, respectively, compared to just 1.8kg in the placebo group. This corresponds to placebo-adjusted weight loss percentages of 7.4%, 9.2%, 11.3%, and 13.10%.

Costanza Alciati, a Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, remarked, “The study met all primary and secondary endpoints, demonstrating statistically significant weight loss effects and a favorable safety profile. Consequently, following a written response to the company’s Type C meeting with the FDA, if everything proceeds according to Viking Therapeutics’ plans, the company could save hundreds of thousands of dollars by advancing directly to Phase III trials, potentially reaching the market sooner than anticipated.”

Alciati also noted, “Competition in the obesity field is expected to intensify toward the end of this decade, as many companies have treatments in development expected to launch in the late 2020s. The promising results could give VK2735 a competitive edge over other candidates in the pipeline. Assuming VK2735 enters Phase III clinical trials next year, it could become one of the next therapies to enter the market, directly competing with Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide due to its similar mechanism of action.”

However, Viking’s candidate will face additional challenges from established drugs like Wegovy, which has been expanding its approval labels in various regions. Notably, Wegovy has recently been approved in the UK and EU as the first drug to reduce cardiovascular risks in obese adults.

Alciati concluded, “It will be interesting to see whether new therapies entering the obesity market will follow Novo Nordisk’s approach of pursuing label extensions or opt for alternative strategies to enhance their competitiveness.”

As the obesity market grows, demand for effective therapeutic options continues to outstrip supply, creating significant opportunities for new entrants.