Latest news with #VK2809
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Monster Stocks in the Making to Buy Now and Hold for 10 Years
Viking Therapeutics has a promising pipeline candidate in the fast-growing therapeutic area of weight loss. Madrigal Pharmaceuticals markets the only approved therapy for a disease whose prevalence is growing. 10 stocks we like better than Viking Therapeutics › Investing in promising companies before their stock prices soar is an excellent recipe for earning life-changing returns. However, with hundreds of companies vying for investors' attention, separating the wheat from the chaff can be challenging. Recognizing those corporations with long-term market-beating potential -- especially before they are well-established -- isn't easy, but let's give it a shot anyway. Consider two mid-cap biotechs: Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) and Madrigal Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MDGL). These two drugmakers could grow in prominence in the next decade and deliver superior returns. Viking Therapeutics became famous in the biotech world last year after announcing positive phase 2 results for VK2735, an investigational GLP-1 weight loss candidate. The stock has not performed well since, which we can attribute to several factors. First, longtime investors took the opportunity to cash in on its big jump. Second, Viking hasn't had any clinical update as significant as that since. Third, like most other corporations, the drugmaker is suffering from marketwide issues. However, the bullish case for Viking is straightforward. The company could develop successful medicines in areas with unmet or growing needs. VK2735 has produced phase 2 data that rivals almost any other anti-obesity candidate outside those being developed by the leaders in the field, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Then there's VK2809, a promising candidate for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Because obesity is a major risk factor for MASH, there's a significant need for therapies to address the condition. There is only one medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this disease, so there's room for others. VK2809, like VK2735, should make more progress this year. Elsewhere, Viking is developing VK0214 to treat X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), a rare genetic nervous-system disorder. There are ways to manage X-ALD symptoms, but there is no disease-specific FDA-approved treatment. VK0214 has earned the orphan drug designation from the agency, which is reserved for therapies in development that have shown promising clinical evidence in treating rare diseases. So Viking's pipeline looks promising, and we haven't even mentioned the company's oral version of VK2735. True, the stock is somewhat risky, as are all clinical-stage biotech companies. However, if enough things go Viking's way, it could generate monster returns in the next decade as it earns approval for key products and starts generating strong revenue. In my view, initiating a small position in the stock is worth it. The only FDA-approved medicine for MASH, Rezdiffra, belongs to Madrigal Pharmaceuticals. It earned this honor early last year, although the medicine is under accelerated approval; that means it will have to prove efficacy once and for all in confirmatory studies, or it could be taken off the market. In the meantime, the drug is performing well. In the first quarter, its sales came in at $137.3 million, ahead of consensus analyst estimates; the medicine has made it a habit to top Wall Street's projections. It also speaks volumes about Madrigal. Plenty of drugmaking giants are looking to develop breakthrough therapies in this field. So far, only Madrigal has succeeded. Though another company will eventually challenge Madrigal, the future still looks bright. The biotech is already treating 17,000 patients with Rezdiffra, but that's still just about 5% of the 315,000 the company is targeting. Also, its crown jewel is approved for MASH patients with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis (scarring). Madrigal will seek label expansions in the most advanced form of scarring, cirrhosis. The biotech estimates that this indication could double its target market. And that's before we consider the fact that the number of people with MASH is increasing and, according to some estimates, will continue to do so well beyond the next 10 with potential competition on the way, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals has a massive addressable market. That, together with its first-mover advantage and potential clinical progress for Rezdiffra, could allow it to generate superior returns in the next 10 years. The company could be on the way to establishing itself as a biotech leader. Before you buy stock in Viking Therapeutics, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Viking Therapeutics wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $598,613!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $753,878!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 922% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 169% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 12, 2025 Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Monster Stocks in the Making to Buy Now and Hold for 10 Years was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Will Pfizer Acquire Altimmune or Viking Therapeutics After Its Obesity Pill Setback?
Altimmune and Viking Therapeutics have promising obesity drugs and could be great acquisition targets for Pfizer. Pfizer should be able to easily fund an acquisition of either small drugmaker. However, Pfizer could hold off on the acquisitions front to see how its obesity drug PF-07976016 fares in clinical testing. The market for obesity drugs presents one of the most lucrative targets for biopharmaceutical companies. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are already raking in billions of dollars in sales with their weight-loss drugs. Other drugmakers are eyeing the market as well. Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) is certainly in that group. However, the company finds itself at a distinct disadvantage after it recently threw in the towel on experimental obesity pill danuglipron because of safety concerns. Could Pfizer solve the issue by acquiring an up-and-coming biotech with a promising obesity drug in clinical development? Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » The good news for Pfizer is that it shouldn't have any problems finding an acquisition candidate if it chooses to go that route. I can think of two great targets off the top of my head. Let's start with Altimmune (NASDAQ: ALT). The company has what it calls "a pipeline in a product" with experimental GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist pemvidutide. Altimmune met with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November 2024 at the end of successful phase 2 testing of the drug in treating obesity. It expects to report results from a phase 2 study of pemvidutide in liver disorder metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in the second quarter of 2025. Altimmune also plans to advance the drug into phase 2 studies later this year as a potential treatment of alcohol use disorder and alcohol-associated liver disease. Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) stands out as another potential acquisition target for Pfizer. The company expects to begin phase 3 testing of a subcutaneous version of GLP-1/GIP receptor dual agonist VK2735 in treating obesity this year. It's conducting a phase 2 study of an oral formulation of the drug, with results anticipated in the second half of 2025. Like Altimmune, Viking has a promising pipeline candidate targeting MASH, which is also known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The company reported positive phase 2 results for its MASH drug, VK2809, last year. In addition, Viking is developing VK0214 as a potential treatment for the rare genetic disorder X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). Pfizer's cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled nearly $20.5 billion at the end of 2024. The big pharmaceutical company raked in revenue of $63.6 billion last year with a profit of over $8 billion. The main negative for the company is its huge debt load of around $64 billion. Still, Pfizer appears to be in a good financial position to move forward with a bolt-on acquisition. I think buying either Altimmune or Viking would be a relatively painless deal for Pfizer. Altimmune's market cap is currently below $400 million. Even if we assumed a hefty premium to close a takeover of the company, Pfizer should be able to fund the transaction without taking on additional debt. Acquiring Viking wouldn't be quite as cheap, with its market cap of almost $3 billion. However, Pfizer should be able to finance a buyout of Viking with its cash stockpile without breaking a sweat if it wanted to make a deal. But will Pfizer choose to acquire either Altimmune or Viking? I'm not sure. Although danuglipron is no longer a contender, Pfizer still has another experimental oral obesity drug in phase 2 testing -- PF-07976016. I wouldn't be surprised if Pfizer waited to get a better feel for how PF-07976016 fares in clinical development before making a decision on potentially pursuing an acquisition. However, the company probably can't wait too long. Other big drugmakers seeking to enter the obesity market could have their sights set on Altimmune and Viking, too. Before you buy stock in Pfizer, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Pfizer wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $598,818!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $666,416!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 872% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 160% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2025 Keith Speights has positions in Pfizer. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Pfizer. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Will Pfizer Acquire Altimmune or Viking Therapeutics After Its Obesity Pill Setback? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Stocks Down by 25% or More This Year to Buy and Hold
Equity markets have had a rough go of it this year due to President Trump's macroeconomic policies. Though it can be challenging to navigate this environment, one way to make the best of it is to look for terrific stocks to invest in while they are down. Doing so could lead to outsized returns for patient, long-term investors. To that end, let's consider two stocks that have declined by at least 25% this year and look attractive: Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) and PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL). Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Drugmakers without a single therapy on the market tend to be somewhat risky, but investing in these companies early enough can lead to life-changing returns. Viking Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech, looks like one of the more attractive ones right now. The company focuses on developing medicines for metabolic and endocrine disorders. It rose to fame last year thanks to excellent phase 2 data for its leading candidate, VK2735, a potential weight management therapy. It's not just that VK2735's results were strong. The market for anti-obesity drugs is growing rapidly and is getting increasingly crowded. Drugmakers big and small are dipping their toes into this space -- very few have delivered mid-stage results that match those of VK2735. Viking also produced strong phase 2 data for VK2809, a potential treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. Another one of its candidates, VK0214, an investigational treatment for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy -- a rare genetic nervous system disorder -- completed phase 1 studies recently, too. While many biotechs at this stage would focus on the candidates already being tested in humans, Viking Therapeutics is still looking for new gems. It is developing a next-gen weight loss medicine that mimics the action of two hormones: amylin and calcitonin. The former aids in controlling blood sugar and satiety, while the latter helps regulate calcium levels. Dual agonists are increasingly popular in this and other fields. Viking's pre-clinical candidate may not pan out, but the company is constantly searching for the next big thing, an attractive quality in a biotech company. Although the stock has struggled recently, clinical and regulatory progress could lead to substantial gains in the coming years. The biotech stock might be somewhat risky, but it is well worth initiating a small position in the stock today for those comfortable with some volatility. PayPal's shares fell this year because its fourth-quarter results failed to impress investors. The company's Braintree payment processing platform did not deliver growth on par with what Wall Street expected in its latest period, leading to the sell-off. The market turmoil only added fuel to the fire. Despite these issues, PayPal is a top fintech stock to buy and hold for a long time. Here are three reasons why. First, Braintree's disappointing performance in Q4 was due to PayPal's conscious decision to abandon unprofitable volume. That means lower sales (and sales growth), but higher profits and margins for the segment in the future. Short-term pain, long-term gains. Second, PayPal has made important changes to its business in recent years that should pay off down the road. One of the most attractive opportunities it has conjured up, in my view, is its advertising business. PayPal is a trusted financial services brand. It ended 2024 with 434 million active accounts -- an increase of 2% year over year -- and millions of businesses that accept it as a payment option. Linking the two parts of the retail transactions it helps facilitate through an ad platform could represent a meaningful revenue source. Third, PayPal benefits from a strong moat even beyond its brand name. The company's platform displays the network effect. The more businesses within its ecosystem, the more attractive it becomes to consumers, and vice versa. That should allow PayPal to remain a leader in fintech for a long time, and given the industry's long-term prospects, the company could deliver strong results and stock market performances along the way. That's why the stock is a buy today, while shares are down 26% this year. Before you buy stock in Viking Therapeutics, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Viking Therapeutics wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $518,599!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $640,429!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 794% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 153% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 14, 2025 Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in PayPal and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends PayPal. The Motley Fool recommends Viking Therapeutics and recommends the following options: long January 2027 $42.50 calls on PayPal and short June 2025 $77.50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Stocks Down by 25% or More This Year to Buy and Hold was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Will Viking Therapeutics Be a Top Healthcare Stock in 10 Years?
Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) is a healthcare company that possesses a lot of growth potential. And last year, its shares rose by 116%, as investors were bullish on its prospects. This year, however, has been a much different story, with the markets on shaky ground. Viking has lost more than 40% of its value since January. While there has been some significant volatility in the short term, there could still be a lot more room for Viking to be a much more valuable business in the long run, especially if it ends up having a top GLP-1 weight loss drug in its portfolio. Could Viking become one of the top healthcare stocks in the world in 10 years? It's not hard to see why this company, which currently has a market cap of around $2.5 billion, can become a lot more valuable in the future. VK2735 is a drug candidate in Viking's portfolio that has been showing some exciting results in clinical trials. It has helped people lose around 15% of their body weight in a phase 2 trial. The company has also been developing an oral version of the drug, which helped people achieve at least 5% weight loss after about a month of being on the pill -- based on a phase 1 trial. Then there's VK2809, a possible treatment for MASH, a form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In a phase 2 trial, it was able to reduce liver fat after a period of 52 weeks by an average of 37% to 55%. Between VK2809 and VK2735, there could easily be billions of dollars in revenue for Viking to bring in, as both drugs could be blockbusters. The caveat, however, is that there's still a fair bit of uncertainty ahead, as there's no guarantee they will be approved. It will be costly to continue to develop these drugs and to commercialize them, should they obtain approval. Even under the best-case scenario, it could be multiple years before the company sees any revenue from these products. But the potential is certainly there. If VK2809 and VK2735 obtain approval, there is no doubt in my mind that Viking's valuation will skyrocket and the healthcare stock could double or even triple in value, especially given the exciting potential in GLP-1. But for its upside to be even higher than that, and for the company to be among the most valuable in its industry, I believe it needs to have more assets to build around. That's because many healthcare companies are investing heavily into GLP-1 drugs in order to not miss out on a market opportunity that may easily be worth more than $100 billion. This includes industry heavyweights such as Pfizer and Roche. And Eli Lilly already has an approved weight loss drug in Zepbound. Competition is going to be fierce, and having an approved GLP-1 drug may not be enough to make Viking a top healthcare company. Approval of a drug in this space can generate significant returns for investors who buy the stock today, but whether its valuation continues to climb higher will ultimately depend on how diversified and strong its roster of drugs is in the future. Viking's stock skyrocketed last year amid hopes of supercharged growth for the business, due to its promising GLP-1 drug. But the company also incurred a net loss of $110 million in 2024, and losses are likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Approval of the drugs listed earlier can help with the business in getting to breakeven and boosting its overall valuation, but that may not be enough to make Viking a top healthcare stock in the future. A lot will depend on what other drugs it ends up developing and bringing to market in the years ahead. However, at its reduced valuation, I see a lot of good value in Viking's stock, given the potentially lucrative, moneymaking assets it has in its portfolio. This is a stock that may be worth investing a modest amount of money into, assuming that you're comfortable with the risk and uncertainty that comes with it. It's hard to predict which companies will become big players within their industries in a decade, but by putting money into multiple promising growth stocks, you can increase the odds for success that one of your investments may be a big winner over the long term. Viking does have that potential, even though it is by no means a sure thing. It's an exciting stock to watch, and while it may not be suitable for all types of investors, if you can stomach the risk, it may be worth buying right now. Before you buy stock in Viking Therapeutics, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Viking Therapeutics wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $469,399!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $590,231!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 731% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 146% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 5, 2025 David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Pfizer. The Motley Fool recommends Roche Holding AG and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Will Viking Therapeutics Be a Top Healthcare Stock in 10 Years? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Smartest Biotech Stocks to Buy With $50
One of the great things about equity markets is that you don't need a fortune to get started. Though strong companies that perform well tend to attract plenty of attention that bids up their share prices, it's possible to buy shares of quality stocks with $50 -- or less. Here are two great examples in the biotech industry: Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) and Exelixis (NASDAQ: EXEL). These two drugmakers could generate outsized returns to investors who initiate positions now. Viking Therapeutics, a mid-cap biotech, is looking to make waves in the fast-growing market for weight management medicines. Last year, it reported positive phase 2 results for the subcutaneous formulation of its leading candidate, VK2735. It will move forward with phase 3 studies for this product soon. Meanwhile, Viking Therapeutics is also developing an oral version of its anti-obesity therapy; this formulation recently started phase 2 studies after performing well in a phase 1 clinical trial last year. The potential for Viking could be large, considering the current weight management leaders' success. Viking's candidate may not need to generate the kind of sales that Wegovy and Zepbound do. However, reaching blockbuster status would be a significant accomplishment for the smaller company. And although the weight loss field is getting crowded, few companies not named Eli Lilly or Novo Nordisk have posted mid-stage results that rival those for VK2735. Furthermore, Viking has several other exciting candidates. Its investigational medicine for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), VK2809, also performed well in mid-stage studies. Viking is working on yet another potential weight loss candidate that's still in preclinical studies, showing that the company isn't putting all its eggs in one basket. Viking Therapeutics is a bit risky since it still doesn't have a single approved product, but it's shown innovative qualities and its shares could skyrocket in the long run if its mid-stage programs pan out. If you're an investor comfortable with volatility, it might be well worth it to initiate a small position in the stock at a price of about $25 per share. The oncology market is one of the industry's largest and most competitive -- the most prominent pharmaceutical companies typically dominate it. However, Exelixis, a relatively small biotech compared to the leaders, is a successful cancer-focused drugmaker. Recent events once again highlight why. On March 26, it announced that Cabometyx, its best-selling product, earned a label expansion in the U.S. in treating advanced neuroendocrine tumors. Cabometyx has been Exelixis' most significant growth driver for a while, and it continues to grind out new indications that help the biotech generate growing revenue and profits. In 2024, Exelixis' top line increased by a healthy 18.5% year over year to $2.2 billion. The company's adjusted net earnings per share grew by 22% year over year to $2. Importantly, Exelixis put a significant risk to bed last year. The company had been fighting a legal battle over the potential launch of a Cabometyx generic by MSN Laboratories, a privately held biotech. Exelixis won the battle and won't have to worry about MSN's generics until 2030. Until then, new and existing indications for Cabometyx will keep revenue going in the right direction -- it remains the top-prescribed medicine of its kind in renal cell carcinoma, by far the most common type of kidney cancer. And it's still undergoing clinical trials, so more label expansions might be coming. Meanwhile, Exelixis is developing newer medicines, hoping to find another "pipeline in a drug" like Cabometyx. There is a high unmet need in colorectal cancer, since the disease has a low five-year survival rate once it metastasizes. Exelixis is looking to fill this need with zanzalintinib, which is undergoing phase 3 studies in advanced colorectal cancer, among other targets. It also has other programs in early-stage studies. Between the continuing performance of Cabometyx, Exelixis' pipeline, and the company's ability to navigate the competitive oncology market successfully, you could buy and hold this stock for a long time -- and its shares are trading hands for just under $37 each. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a 'Double Down' stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $285,647!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $42,315!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $500,667!* Right now, we're issuing 'Double Down' alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.*Stock Advisor returns as of April 1, 2025 Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Eli Lilly, Exelixis, Novo Nordisk, and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Exelixis. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Smartest Biotech Stocks to Buy With $50 was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
