VKTX Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates Despite Surge in R&D Costs
VKTX
Viking Therapeutics VKTX reported a second-quarter 2026 loss of $1.10 per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.21. The reported loss, however, widened from a loss of 58 cents per share in the year-ago quarter due to higher operating expenses
Viking does not have any approved product in its portfolio and is yet to generate revenues. The company continued investing in VK2735, its lead obesity candidate being developed in injectable and oral formulations
VKTX’s Operating Costs Rise on Pipeline Work
Research and development expenses surged 92.4% year over year to $115.8 million. The rise primarily reflected higher spending on clinical studies, salaries and benefits, stock-based compensation and third-party consultants
General and administrative expenses climbed 16.8% to $16.9 million. Higher consultant, legal and patent-service costs, salaries and benefits were partly offset by lower stock-based compensation
Total operating expenses increased to $132.6 million from $74.6 million a year ago
Year to date, shares of the company have lost 5% against the industry’s nearly 4% growth
Viking Continues to Advance Injectable Obesity Program
VK2735 is a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist being developed for obesity in injectable and oral formulations. Viking believes offering both forms could provide patients with greater flexibility across weight-loss treatment and long-term maintenance
The subcutaneous (SC) formulation is being evaluated in the phase III VANQUISH program. VANQUISH-1 is studying adults with obesity, while VANQUISH-2 is evaluating adults with obesity and type II diabetes (T2D)
Both studies are fully enrolled and continued to advance according to plan during the quarter. Participants in each study have been randomized to weekly doses of 7.5 mg, 12.5 mg or 17.5 mg of VK2735, or placebo. The studies are evaluating treatment over 78 weeks
The primary endpoint measures the percentage change in body weight from baseline compared with placebo. Secondary and exploratory measures include the proportion of patients achieving weight reductions of at least 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%
Each study also includes an extension period. This will allow participants to continue treatment after completing the primary dosing phase, including those initially assigned to placebo
Viking Prepares Oral VK2735 for Phase III
Viking remains on track to initiate two phase III studies on oral VK2735 in the fourth quarter of 2026. Management said the studies will broadly follow the VANQUISH framework but will be smaller in scale and shorter in duration than the VANQUISH studies
The company’s prior phase II study showed statistically significant mean body-weight reductions of up to 12.2% after 13 weeks of once-daily oral treatment. Significant differences from baseline and placebo were observed across all doses above 15 mg
Up to 80% of participants in the VK2735 treatment groups achieved at least 10% <a href="https://healthylife7.com/indiana-to-help-cover-weight-loss-drug-costs-for-eligible-hoosiers-on-medicaid/” title=”Indiana to help cover weight loss drug costs for eligible Hoosiers on Medicaid”>weight loss compared with 5% of placebo-treated participants. Viking also reported an encouraging safety and tolerability profile through the 13-week treatment period
Viking Nears Maintenance Study Readout
Viking is evaluating VK2735 in a separate maintenance study designed to test whether less-frequent dosing can sustain weight loss after an initial period of weekly treatment
The study includes weekly, every-other-week and monthly SC maintenance regimens, along with placebo. Viking expects to report results later in the third quarter of 2026
Management said the findings could help identify two to four regimens for additional evaluation in the VANQUISH extension studies, which are expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027. Viking also plans to assess oral maintenance regimens, with that portion of the study expected to be completed in the first half of 2027
Viking Expands Its Obesity Pipeline
During the quarter, Viking initiated a phase I single-ascending-dose study on VK3019. The investigational candidate is a dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist being developed for obesity
The early-stage study is evaluating healthy adults with a body mass index of at least 27. Its primary objectives are to assess safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics following single SC doses
Exploratory assessments will examine changes in body weight after one dose. Management sees potential for VK3019 as a stand-alone therapy and, over time, as a combination candidate with VK2735
VKTX Retains Cash Runway Into 2028
Viking ended June with $502 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments compared with $603 million at the end of first-quarter 2026
Management described the current period as the heaviest phase of cash usage for the VANQUISH studies. It expects spending to taper and reiterated that existing re
VKTX’s Zacks Rank
Viking currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold)
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. Price
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. price | Viking Therapeutics, Inc. Quote
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Some better-ranked stocks from the sector areLiquidia CorporationLQDA andHarmony BiosciencesHRMY, sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here
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Liquidia’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 54.40%
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Harmony Biosciences’ earnings missed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average negative surprise being 25.16%
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