Viking Therapeutics Shares Fall 2.5% on $230M Volume (Rank 425th) as Pipeline Optimism Balances Sector Setbacks

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) fell 2.50% on August 14, 2025, with a trading volume of $230 million, ranking 425th in market activity. The decline follows mixed news on its pipeline and broader sector dynamics. Analysts highlighted potential for VK2735, its Phase III-ready obesity drug candidate, amid setbacks for competitors like Eli Lilly’s orforglipron, which underperformed weight-loss expectations. This positions Viking to gain market traction if VK2735 advances toward regulatory approval.

Recent developments include a manufacturing agreement with CordenPharma to support VK2735 commercialization, signaling progress in scaling production. However, Viking’s Q2 results showed no revenue and a wider-than-expected loss, weighing on investor sentiment. Brokers remain cautiously optimistic, noting the company’s focus on metabolic disorders and a robust R&D portfolio, including VK5211 for post-fracture recovery and VK0612 for type 2 diabetes.

Comparative analysis with peers like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly underscores Viking’s potential as a niche player in the obesity drug space. While sector leaders face clinical hurdles, Viking’s pipeline readiness could attract speculative interest. However, execution risks remain, particularly in advancing VK2735 through trials and securing partnerships for commercialization.

The backtest results indicate that a strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day from 2022 to 2025 generated a total profit of $10,720, reflecting modest gains amid market fluctuations.