Viking's Weight Loss Drug Fails to Impress, 28% Dropout Rate

Viking Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company, recently disclosed the interim results of its oral weight loss drug, VK2735, which fell short of expectations. The drug, a dual GLP-1R/GIPR agonist, was found to help patients lose up to 12.2% of their body weight. However, the trial encountered significant hurdles, with approximately 28% of participants discontinuing the study within just three months. This high dropout rate has sparked concerns about the drug's efficacy and tolerability, dampening investor confidence in its potential to compete with existing weight loss medications from companies like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.

The disappointing results from Viking's trial follow another recent setback in the weight loss drug sector. Earlier this month, Eli Lilly reported that its experimental oral weight loss drug, orforglipron, achieved an average weight loss of 12.4% over 72 weeks, missing market expectations. Analysts had anticipated that orforglipron would replicate the success of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, which demonstrated a 14.9% weight loss over 68 weeks in a 2021 trial. The consecutive disappointments in this field underscore the significant scientific challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies in developing effective oral weight loss medications.

The high dropout rate in Viking's trial is particularly alarming. Analysts note that the 28% dropout rate within three months is unusually high and suggests that patients may be experiencing significant side effects or other issues that make it difficult for them to continue the treatment. This is a critical factor that could impede the drug's approval and market acceptance.

The development of oral weight loss drugs is seen as the next frontier in weight management, but the field is fraught with challenges. Earlier this year, Pfizer discontinued the development of its oral weight loss drug, danuglipron, due to liver injury concerns observed in clinical trials. This underscores the risks and uncertainties involved in developing new weight loss medications.

The weight loss drug sector is highly competitive, with several companies vying to bring innovative treatments to market. The recent setbacks for Viking and Eli Lilly serve as a reminder of the difficulties in this area. Despite the challenges, the demand for effective weight loss solutions remains high, driving continued investment and research in this field.