over the past couple of years, this has been one of our favorite pipeline medications to track. On my channels we call it Vikingtide and today it just took its biggest step forward.
Viking Therapeutics has launched its Phase 3 program for VK2735, their dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist. If Mounjaro is the heavyweight, Vikingtide is the unshakable contender with a loyal base and growing momentum. But after today, it is not just a niche story anymore.
The VANQUISH program (love the trial name) includes two trials. One is for adults with obesity. The other is for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Combined, the enrollment goal crosses 5500 participants. That is not a typo. For comparison, Lilly enrolled around 2500 people in their SURMOUNT obesity study, and under 1000 in the diabetes arm. Viking is going big.
Why the huge number? Some biotech investors think Viking wants to pre-load for long-term outcome data. Others point to the design, which includes three active maintenance doses. If each dose needs a separate placebo, that would explain the massive scale. Either way, this is not overshooting. It is strategic.
Each participant will be randomized to weekly injections of 7.5 mg, 12.5 mg, 17.5 mg, or placebo. Treatment will last 78 weeks. The main outcome is percentage of body weight lost. Secondary outcomes will look at how many people reach five, ten, fifteen, or twenty percent loss.
If you remember the VENTURE Phase 2 trial, this move to Phase 3 makes sense. In just 13 weeks, once weekly injectable VK2735 helped patients lose up to 14.7% of their weight. More interestingly, they kept most of it off even seven weeks after their last dose. That kind of durability is rare in this class of medicine. The side effects were manageable, mostly mild nausea early on, with no red flags in dropout rates.
Viking is also planning a monthly maintenance version of VK2735 and continuing work on an oral formulation. Results from the oral trial are expected later this year. That means Viking could offer the most adaptable platform yet, a weekly injection, a monthly dose, and a pill, all targeting obesity.
Some of the investor community is already talking buyout, though that is still speculation. What is not speculative is this, Vikingtide is no longer operating in the shadows. This is a serious challenge to the current players.
We will keep you posted the moment new data drops. If you have been rooting for more options in this space, this is one to watch.
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I’ve always been keen on this one. Great progress.
Love seeing progression, and competition!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻