Therapeutics for metabolic and endocrine disorders

Viking Therapeutics is focused on developing innovative therapeutics aimed at addressing metabolic and endocrine disorders. Their pipeline includes several promising drug candidates, such as VK2735, which targets obesity and metabolic disorders, and VK2809, designed for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASH). Additionally, the company is advancing VK0214 for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) and VK5211, which is intended for hip fracture recovery and muscle wasting. Other notable programs include VK0612 for type 2 diabetes and VK1430 for hypertriglyceridemia and NASH, as well as an EPOR agonist program aimed at treating anemia.

The therapeutic candidates developed by Viking Therapeutics are characterized by their unique mechanisms of action, which differentiate them from existing treatments. For instance, VK5211 is an orally available small molecule that offers a novel approach to managing muscle wasting and recovery from hip fractures. The company's commitment to addressing a range of metabolic and endocrine disorders underscores its strategic focus on creating effective and innovative solutions for patients in need.

United States

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:VKTX) is a clinical-stage company focused on the development of first-in-class or best-in-class therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Our most advanced candidate is a non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) currently in Phase 2 trial for the treatment recovery from hip fracture surgery. Our thyroid receptor beta (TRb) agonist platform, also in Phase 2, is being developed for lipid disorders such as hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver diseases such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as well as for rare diseases of glycogen storage disease (GSD 1a) and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, or X-ALD. See more at http://www.vikingtherapeutics.com



Liver Diseases

Metabolic Diseases

Nervous System Diseases

Rare diseases

Viking Therapeutics

Metabolic disorder

Obesity

Activation of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor has been shown to decrease glucose, reduce appetite, lower body weight and improve insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes, obesity, or both. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is currently marketed in various dosage strengths and forms as Ozempic®, Rybelsus®, and Wegovy®. More recently, research efforts have explored the potential co-activation of the glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) receptor as a means of enhancing the therapeutic benefits of GLP-1 receptor activation. Tirzepatide is a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist that is currently in clinical development.

VK2735 (Injectable) 

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

VK2809 is an orally available, tissue and receptor-subtype selective agonist of the thyroid hormone beta receptor (THRβ or THβ) that possesses selectivity for liver tissue, as well as the beta receptor subtype, suggesting promising therapeutic potential in a range of lipid disorders.&nbsp; VK2809 belongs to a family of novel prodrugs which are cleaved in vivo to release potent thyromimetics. Selective activation of the TRß receptor in liver tissue is believed to favorably affect cholesterol and lipoprotein levels via multiple mechanisms, including increasing the expression of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors and increasing mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation.

VK2809

VK2735 (Oral formulation)

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy

VK0214 is a novel, orally available small molecule thyroid hormone receptor agonist that possesses selectivity for the beta receptor subtype. Data from an in vivo proof-of-concept study of VK0214 in X-ALD were presented at the 87th Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association, in Victoria, British Columbia. The results of this study demonstrated that long-term (25-week) treatment with VK0214 produced statistically significant reductions in plasma and tissue levels of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) compared to vehicle-treated controls. VLCFA levels in central nervous system (CNS) tissues were also significantly reduced, suggesting a potential direct benefit in both brain and spinal cord. Treatment with VK0214 was also shown to stimulate significant increases in ABCD2 transporter expression in CNS tissue, providing further evidence of its effect beyond plasma exposures. These study results were consistent with the proposed mechanism of thyroid receptor beta (TRb)-mediated reductions in VLCFA levels, as ABCD2 is regulated by TRb and known to play a role in VLCFA metabolism. The successful outcome of this work serves to provide support for the role of selective TRb activation as a potential therapeutic approach to the disease (<a href="https://www.vikingtherapeutics.com/pipeline/rare-disease-programs/">source</a>)

VK0214 

Muscle injury following hip fracture

VK5211 is an orally available, non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) in Phase 2 development for the treatment of patients recovering from non-elective hip fracture surgery. &nbsp;VK5211 belongs to a family of novel orally available, non-steroidal SARM compounds based on tissue-specific gene expression and other functional, cell-based technologies. &nbsp;Viking believes that VK5211 has the potential to produce the therapeutic benefits of testosterone with improved safety, tolerability and patient acceptance due to a tissue-selective mechanism of action and an oral route of administration. &nbsp;In Phase 1 clinical trials, VK5211 demonstrated statistically significant increases in lean body mass among treated subjects following 21 days of treatment. &nbsp;In a preclinical model of osteoporosis, VK5211 demonstrated improvements in bone mineral density, bone mineral content, bone strength, and other measures.

Viking Therapeutics

Company Details