Viking Therapeutics Initiates Phase 3 Trials for Oral Weight Loss Drug VK2735
Biopharmaceutical company Viking Therapeutics has initiated two pivotal phase 3 trials (SUNRISE-1 and SUNRISE-2) to evaluate the oral formulation of its weight loss drug, VK2735. The decision follows mixed results from earlier phases: while tolerability in a small phase 1 trial was strong, safety concerns emerged during an aggressive dosing regimen in the phase 2 VENTURE-Oral study. The company is addressing these issues by adjusting its approach for the new trials—reducing tablet size and count, lowering maximum doses, extending treatment duration to 68 weeks from 13 weeks previously, and using a more conservative titration schedule. These changes aim to improve tolerability and reduce adverse events that led to high discontinuation rates in phase 2. Investors remain cautiously optimistic as Viking's dual-formulation strategy—combining subcutaneous (injectable) with oral VK2735—is seen as potentially valuable for broader patient adoption.
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Topics: biopharmaceutical company clinical trials weight loss drug