What Viking Therapeutics does

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: VKTX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California that develops novel therapeutics for metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company's research leverages expertise in metabolism across four mechanistic platforms: dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonism (VK2735 in subcutaneous and oral formulations), selective thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRβ) agonism (VK2809 for MASH/NASH and VK0214 for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy), dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonism (VK3019 for obesity), and selective androgen receptor modulation (VK5211 for hip fracture recovery). Lead asset VK2735 is in Phase 3 development — the VANQUISH-1 trial (~4,650 patients with obesity) and VANQUISH-2 trial (~1,000 patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity) — with data readouts expected in 2027; subcutaneous VK2735 demonstrated up to 14.7% mean weight loss at 13 weeks in the Phase 2 VENTURE trial, while the oral formulation showed up to 12.2% weight loss.

The company operates a traditional clinical-stage biopharma model with no approved products and no current commercial revenue. Capital formation has been executed through public equity markets — a $250 million offering in March 2023 and a $632.5 million offering in March 2024 — providing a $603 million cash position at March 31, 2026 against quarterly R&D spend exceeding $150 million. Viking is building pre-commercial infrastructure ahead of potential VK2735 approval, including a $150 million manufacturing agreement with CordenPharma running through 2028 and the recent appointments of a Chief Commercial Officer (Neil Aubuchon, ex-Eli Lilly and Amgen) and Chief Medical Officer (Hubert C. Chen, ex-Amylin Pharmaceuticals). The company is publicly traded and operates as an independent entity with no parent company or subsidiaries.

Name

Viking Therapeutics

Legal name

Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

Website

http://vikingtherapeutics.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for metabolic and endocrine disorders, with lead asset VK2735 — a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist in Phase 3 trials for obesity — alongside TRβ agonists, a DACRA, and a SARM in its pipeline.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metabolic Disorder Therapeutics

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Therapeutic Peptides & Protein/Peptide Biologics (HLAAAAAH)

Keywords

• Metabolic disorder therapeutics
• Obesity drug development
• GLP-1 receptor agonists
• Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
• Endocrine disorder treatments

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. No Current Revenue: Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with no approved products or commercial revenue. The company is developing multiple therapeutic candidates and has no product sales as of Q1 2026.
2. Future Product Sales: Upon regulatory approval, the company plans to commercialize its drug candidates, primarily VK2735 for obesity, through traditional pharmaceutical sales channels targeting healthcare providers and patients.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company's lead product candidate, VK2735, is a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist being developed in both subcutaneous and oral formulations for the treatment of obesity. Additional pipeline candidates address NASH/MASH, X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, and hip fracture recovery. None of the company's drug candidates are yet approved or generating commercial revenue.

Product overview

Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company's product portfolio consists of multiple clinical-stage programs: VK2735 (dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist) being developed in both subcutaneous and oral formulations for obesity; VK3019 (amylin receptor agonist) for obesity; VK2809 (TRβ agonist) for MASH/NASH; VK0214 (TRβ agonist) for X-ALD; and VK5211 (SARM) for hip fracture recovery. The company has no commercialized products and is focused on advancing its pipeline through clinical development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VK2735 (Dual GLP-1/GIP Receptor Agonist) VK2735 is a novel dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors being developed in both subcutaneous (weekly injection) and oral (daily tablet) formulations for the treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders. The subcutaneous formulation is in Phase 3 VANQUISH trials and the oral formulation Phase 3 is planned for Q3 2026.
• VK3019 (Dual Amylin and Calcitonin Receptor Agonist) VK3019 is a novel dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist (DACRA) being developed as a potential treatment for obesity and weight loss. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled single ascending dose Phase 1 trial is being conducted in healthy adults with BMI ≥30.
• VK2809 (Selective TRβ Agonist) VK2809 is an orally available, small molecule selective thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRβ) agonist with selectivity for liver tissue and the beta receptor subtype, being developed for the treatment of MASH/NASH and associated fibrosis. The Phase 2b VOYAGE trial demonstrated median 38-55% relative change in liver fat and 63-75% NASH resolution rate.
• VK0214 (Selective TRβ Agonist) VK0214 is an orally available, small molecule selective thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist being developed for the treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), a rare and often fatal metabolic disorder caused by mutations in the ABCD1 gene. The drug has received FDA orphan drug designation.
• VK5211 (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator) VK5211 is an orally available, non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) in development for the treatment of patients recovering from non-elective hip fracture surgery. Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial demonstrated statistically significant increases in lean body mass.

Quantifiable outcome

• VK2735 subcutaneous: up to 14.7% mean weight loss after 13 weeks; up to 88% of patients achieved ≥10% weight loss
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Structure Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing oral small-molecule GLP-1 agonists (GSBR-1290) for obesity. Direct comparable to Viking's oral VK2735 formulation.
• Altimmune: Clinical-stage biotech developing pemvidutide, a GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist for obesity and MASH. Directly comparable mechanism and indication overlap with VK2735 and VK2809.
• Madrigal Pharmaceuticals: Madrigal markets Rezdiffra (resmetirom), the first FDA-approved THR-β selective agonist for MASH. Direct competitor to Viking's VK2809 in MASH/NASH.
• Akero Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing efruxifermin (FGF21 analog) for MASH with Phase 3 HARMONY data. Direct competitor to Viking's VK2809 in MASH.
• Zealand Pharma: Clinical-stage Danish biotech developing petrelintide (amylin analog) and other peptides for obesity. Directly comparable to Viking's DACRA program VK3019 and broader peptide obesity pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Eli Lilly: Eli Lilly markets Mounjaro/Zepbound (tirzepatide), the leading dual GLP-1/GIP agonist for obesity and Type 2 diabetes, making it the dominant incumbent Viking must compete against in metabolic disease.
• Novo Nordisk: Novo Nordisk markets Ozempic/Wegovy (semaglutide), the established GLP-1 obesity franchise, and is developing next-generation candidates including amycretin. Direct competitor to VK2735 in obesity.

Emerging players

• Metsera: Recently public clinical-stage obesity biotech developing injectable and oral amylin and GLP-1-based therapies. Closely comparable to Viking's dual-formulation VK2735 and amylin program VK3019.
• Terns Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biotech developing TERN-601 (oral GLP-1) and TERN-501 (THR-β agonist) for obesity and MASH. Comparable to Viking's oral VK2735 and VK2809 programs.
• Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage RNAi-based therapeutics company with metabolic programs including plozasiran and zodasiran for dyslipidemias and rare metabolic diseases. Adjacent peer in metabolic disease R&D.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/viking_vktx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/viking-therapeutics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds9 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Viking Therapeutics