Latest news with #VikingTherapeutics
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Was Jim Cramer Right to Favor Another Stock Over Viking Therapeutics (VKTX)?
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discusses. Back then, a humorous caller asked if they should 'bulk up' on Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX), referencing both weight loss drugs and football. Cramer responded with his trademark flair and a clear preference: 'I even like the Vikings more than I like Viking Therapeutics — and that's saying something 'cause they ain't that good. I say you need to be in Eli Lilly. Step your game up, partner.' A microbiologist in protective gear studying samples in a laboratory. Cramer favored Eli Lilly over Viking, and with VKTX down -52.27%, he made the better call. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for metabolic and endocrine disorders, including obesity and liver disease. Cramer remains firm in his opinion. Here's what he said on January 30 this year: 'Okay, people, people think that even if Lily's stock can't go up, why would we want Viking Therapeutics? And a lot of people were in it for a takeover. So far it doesn't look like that's materializing, so they're giving up and they are selling it. I prefer Eli Lilly.' Overall, VKTX ranks 6th on our list of stocks that Jim Cramer discusses. While we acknowledge the potential of VKTX as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Stock Down 34% This Year to Buy and Hold
Investors are withdrawing their money from stocks like Viking Therapeutics due to the current uncertainty. However, the biotech has a duo of mid-stage candidates that look incredibly promising. Though it carries above-average risk, Viking has significant upside potential. 10 stocks we like better than Viking Therapeutics › Shares of Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX), a mid-cap biotech, are down by 34% this year. This poor performance may suggest that recent company-specific developments have rendered the stock less attractive or that it is being affected by broader market issues. The latter is true, at least to some extent, but Viking Therapeutics' thesis has not changed significantly this year. The drugmaker remains attractive compared to most of its similarly sized peers. Here is why. Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech. That means the company has no product on the market, generates no revenue, and is consistently unprofitable. Investors aren't too keen on buying shares of companies that fit this profile when broader equities are experiencing significant volatility due to potential macroeconomic issues. In fairness, that makes sense. Clinical-stage biotechs carry above-average risk. Their products may never see the light of day outside the clinic, and even when they do, many do not generate substantial revenue. However, Viking Therapeutics is a bit different. The company is developing medicines across several areas with high unmet needs. First, there is the drugmaker's work in the weight management space. The anti-obesity drug market has experienced significant growth in recent years. Yet, analysts continue to predict that the best is yet to come. Viking Therapeutics' leading candidate in this area, VK2735, is a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist. The only approved medicine of this kind on the market is Eli Lilly's Zepbound, an undisputed leader. Being in the same class as Zepbound doesn't guarantee VK2735's success, but it's still worth pointing out that a similar mechanism of action that led to Zepbound's breakthrough and efficacy could also prove successful for Viking Therapeutics' crown jewel. And more importantly, the investigational medicine has produced better results than almost any other mid-stage candidate in weight management, outside of those being developed by Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. That's impressive for a mid-cap biotech, considering significantly larger drugmakers with far more resources are trying to dominate this market. Viking Therapeutics' other mid-stage program, VK2809, performed well in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a disease with obesity as one of the main risk factors and whose prevalence is on the rise. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved just the first MASH medicine last year, although that will likely change soon. The point, though, is that VK2809 could join a relatively young market in a few years and generate massive sales down the road. These two candidates set Viking Therapeutics apart from other clinical-stage biotech companies. It's also worth noting that Viking Therapeutics recently signed a multiyear manufacturing agreement with privately held CordenPharma for VK2735. Per the terms of the deal, CordenPharma will manufacture more than a billion oral formulations of the medicine annually, as well as over 100 million autoinjectors and another 100 million syringes per year. Viking Therapeutics will make payments to CordenPharma, totaling $150 million through 2028. This deal highlights that Viking Therapeutics is already planning some post-commercial activity for its leading candidate. That's a great sign for investors. Viking Therapeutics is developing other candidates, including another weight management product that is still in preclinical studies. Following a similar blueprint, this product is a dual agonist that mimics the action of not just one but two gut hormones: amylin, which helps regulate blood sugar, and calcitonin, which regulates calcium levels. There is slow progress on that front, but Viking Therapeutics' commitment to innovation is impressive for such a small biotech. Now, Viking Therapeutics' most advanced programs could fail in phase 3 studies. If that happens, especially with VK2735, the stock price is likely to plummet. That's a significant risk to consider. That's why the stock is probably not suitable for risk-averse investors. However, those who are comfortable with volatility should strongly consider initiating a small position in the stock. If the business goes under, which isn't that rare for smaller biotech companies, your losses will be relatively small so long as the company makes a tiny portion of your overall portfolio. But there is significant upside potential that those who invest in Viking Therapeutics today could enjoy over the long run. 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 $669,517!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $868,615!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 792% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% 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 June 2, 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. 1 Stock Down 34% This Year to Buy and Hold was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Stock Down 34% This Year to Buy and Hold
Investors are withdrawing their money from stocks like Viking Therapeutics due to the current uncertainty. However, the biotech has a duo of mid-stage candidates that look incredibly promising. Though it carries above-average risk, Viking has significant upside potential. 10 stocks we like better than Viking Therapeutics › Shares of Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX), a mid-cap biotech, are down by 34% this year. This poor performance may suggest that recent company-specific developments have rendered the stock less attractive or that it is being affected by broader market issues. The latter is true, at least to some extent, but Viking Therapeutics' thesis has not changed significantly this year. The drugmaker remains attractive compared to most of its similarly sized peers. Here is why. Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech. That means the company has no product on the market, generates no revenue, and is consistently unprofitable. Investors aren't too keen on buying shares of companies that fit this profile when broader equities are experiencing significant volatility due to potential macroeconomic issues. In fairness, that makes sense. Clinical-stage biotechs carry above-average risk. Their products may never see the light of day outside the clinic, and even when they do, many do not generate substantial revenue. However, Viking Therapeutics is a bit different. The company is developing medicines across several areas with high unmet needs. First, there is the drugmaker's work in the weight management space. The anti-obesity drug market has experienced significant growth in recent years. Yet, analysts continue to predict that the best is yet to come. Viking Therapeutics' leading candidate in this area, VK2735, is a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist. The only approved medicine of this kind on the market is Eli Lilly's Zepbound, an undisputed leader. Being in the same class as Zepbound doesn't guarantee VK2735's success, but it's still worth pointing out that a similar mechanism of action that led to Zepbound's breakthrough and efficacy could also prove successful for Viking Therapeutics' crown jewel. And more importantly, the investigational medicine has produced better results than almost any other mid-stage candidate in weight management, outside of those being developed by Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. That's impressive for a mid-cap biotech, considering significantly larger drugmakers with far more resources are trying to dominate this market. Viking Therapeutics' other mid-stage program, VK2809, performed well in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a disease with obesity as one of the main risk factors and whose prevalence is on the rise. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved just the first MASH medicine last year, although that will likely change soon. The point, though, is that VK2809 could join a relatively young market in a few years and generate massive sales down the road. These two candidates set Viking Therapeutics apart from other clinical-stage biotech companies. It's also worth noting that Viking Therapeutics recently signed a multiyear manufacturing agreement with privately held CordenPharma for VK2735. Per the terms of the deal, CordenPharma will manufacture more than a billion oral formulations of the medicine annually, as well as over 100 million autoinjectors and another 100 million syringes per year. Viking Therapeutics will make payments to CordenPharma, totaling $150 million through 2028. This deal highlights that Viking Therapeutics is already planning some post-commercial activity for its leading candidate. That's a great sign for investors. Viking Therapeutics is developing other candidates, including another weight management product that is still in preclinical studies. Following a similar blueprint, this product is a dual agonist that mimics the action of not just one but two gut hormones: amylin, which helps regulate blood sugar, and calcitonin, which regulates calcium levels. There is slow progress on that front, but Viking Therapeutics' commitment to innovation is impressive for such a small biotech. Now, Viking Therapeutics' most advanced programs could fail in phase 3 studies. If that happens, especially with VK2735, the stock price is likely to plummet. That's a significant risk to consider. That's why the stock is probably not suitable for risk-averse investors. However, those who are comfortable with volatility should strongly consider initiating a small position in the stock. If the business goes under, which isn't that rare for smaller biotech companies, your losses will be relatively small so long as the company makes a tiny portion of your overall portfolio. But there is significant upside potential that those who invest in Viking Therapeutics today could enjoy over the long run. 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 $669,517!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $868,615!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 792% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% 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 June 2, 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. 1 Stock Down 34% This Year to Buy and Hold 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
Globe and Mail
02-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Could Viking Therapeutics Become the Next Eli Lilly?
The obesity treatment market is booming, with groundbreaking drugs like Eli Lilly 's (NYSE: LLY) Zepbound delivering transformative patient results and powering its stock to a spectacular 400% return in the past five years. Amid this estimated $100 billion opportunity, much smaller upstart Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) has emerged with a promising clinical pipeline, aiming to capture a share of the weight loss and metabolic disease market with its novel dual-agonist approach. Despite a long road ahead for this clinical-stage biotech, recent data suggesting that its VK2735 candidate could rival and even outperform the leading therapies highlights the significant potential of this exciting small-cap stock. Could Viking Therapeutics be the next Eli Lilly? Here's what you need to know. Comparing Eli Lilly and Viking Therapeutics Every market leader started somewhere, and Eli Lilly's history of innovation spans 149 years since its founding in 1876. The global healthcare giant now commands a market capitalization of $685 billion and generated $45 billion in revenue for 2024 across an extensive portfolio of approximately 25 prescription drugs spanning diabetes, obesity, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience. Its flagship therapy, tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for chronic weight management, is a dual agonist targeting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors, which play key roles in regulating blood glucose levels and metabolism. Data shows that Zepbound patients achieve around 21% weight loss over 72 weeks, marking a revolution in obesity treatment. Despite competition from alternatives like Novo Nordisk 's Wegovy, Eli Lilly is capturing strong demand, evident in first-quarter revenue of $12.7 billion that surged 45% year over year for the period ending March 31. The company is translating this momentum into accelerating profitability, with earnings per share (EPS) climbing 29% from the prior-year quarter. Management remains optimistic that these trends will continue. In light of these achievements, Viking Therapeutics has large shoes to fill. The company's current $3 billion valuation is tiny compared to industry leaders, and it has yet to launch a commercial product. Yet, progress toward securing its first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in the coming years would represent a milestone, establishing Viking as a commercially sustainable biotech player with significant long-term potential. Why Viking could follow in Lilly's footsteps Viking's path to emulating Eli Lilly's success lies in its innovative approach to the obesity market through a research and development (R&D) program that also encompasses therapies for diabetes and metabolic disorders like MASH. Compared to existing FDA-approved GLP-1 medications, Viking's VK2735 could be a game-changer, with several advantages emerging from early trial data. Viking's VK2735 GLP-1/GIP dual-agonist delivered a 15% weight loss in just 13 weeks during its Phase 2 VENTURE trial, demonstrating rapid efficacy that far outpaces the baseline trajectories of Zepbound or Wegovy. There are also indications that patients can continue the medication for sustained, potentially greater weight loss, unlike some GLP-1 therapies, where efficacy plateaus. Furthermore, VK2735's early tolerability data show mostly mild to moderate side effects, such as nausea, supporting a favorable safety profile -- a critical advantage given reports of more serious adverse reactions from other GLP-1 drugs, including rare gastroparesis issues. If these results hold in further testing, VK2735 could emerge with a best-in-class profile, driving accelerated global adoption in the obesity treatment market. With $852 million in cash and no debt as of March 31, management is confident in its resources to advance VK2735, and it's already preparing for eventual FDA approval. The company recently announced a manufacturing supply agreement to secure annual capacity for up to 100 million autoinjectors, 100 million vials and syringe products, and over 1 billion oral tablets ahead of a possible large-scale commercial launch in the coming years, assuming all goes well. Verdict: A long road ahead It's unlikely that Viking Therapeutics will become the next Eli Lilly anytime soon, and it remains a highly speculative investment given the uncertainties surrounding its pipeline and regulatory approval timeline. Nevertheless, positive readouts from VK2735 later this year could provide the catalyst needed for the stock to rebound. Investors with a long time horizon who are confident that Viking will disrupt the GLP-1 market and validate its R&D platform might consider taking a small position in the stock today within a diversified portfolio. Alternatively, this stock is worth keeping an eye on for now. Should you invest $1,000 in Viking Therapeutics 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 10 best stocks 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 $651,049!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $828,224!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is979% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to171%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025
Globe and Mail
22-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Better Weight Loss Stock: Amgen or Viking Therapeutics?
Investors looking to cash in on the fast-growing market for weight management medicines will naturally turn to the two leaders in this area, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. However, several other companies seem to have somewhat promising prospects in this field. This group includes Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) and Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX), two drugmakers that have produced phase 2 clinical trial data for their leading weight management candidates. Despite these positive clinical developments, Amgen and Viking Therapeutics have performed poorly on the stock market in the past 12 months, though progress in this area might eventually help them bounce back. But which of these two biotechs should investors trying to profit from the rapid spending on anti-obesity medicines put their money in? Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More » The case for Amgen Amgen's leading weight loss candidate is called MariTide. In November, the biotech reported that in a phase 2 study, the medicine led to an average weight loss of about 20% in overweight or obese patients after 52 weeks, with no weight loss plateau observed. Importantly, MariTide is administered subcutaneously once a month -- the current weight management leaders are taken once weekly. A less frequent dosing could appeal to many patients. The market expected greater weight loss in this study. That's why Amgen's shares fell after it released its phase 2 results. However, the company's data still makes it somewhat likely that it will go on to carve out a solid niche in the rapidly growing weight loss area, although it won't dethrone the leaders. Further, Amgen's prospects go well beyond its work in the anti-obesity market. The company's deep lineup allows it to generate consistent revenue and profits. In the first quarter, Amgen's sales increased by 9% year over year to $8.1 billion, while its adjusted earnings per share came in at $4.90, 24% higher than the year-ago period. Amgen has several growth drivers. Tezspire, an asthma medicine, is performing well, as is Prolia, a treatment for osteoporosis (a bone disease) in postmenopausal women. Amgen also has a deep pipeline of investigational products besides MariTide that will eventually lead to brand-new medicines. Lastly, it is an excellent dividend stock. It offers a forward yield of 3.5% -- compared to the S&P 500 index's average of 1.3% -- and has increased its payouts by 201.3% in the past 10 years. Amgen could generate strong returns over the long run even if MariTide doesn't pan out. The case for Viking Therapeutics Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech. The company's VK2735, its weight management candidate, looks promising. Last year, it reported that at the highest dose, the drug led to a placebo-adjusted mean weight loss of 13.1% (or 14.7% from baseline) after a mere 13 weeks. VK2735 is in the same class of drugs as Eli Lilly's Zepbound. It mimics the action of two gut hormones: GLP-1 and GIP. That doesn't guarantee that it will achieve the same kind of success, but so far, the data looks highly encouraging. Viking Therapeutics has other candidates. The company's VK2809 targets metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. It delivered solid phase 2 results last year. Viking Therapeutics is also developing an oral formulation of VK2735 that is currently in mid-stage studies, while VK0214 is an investigational treatment for a rare, nervous system disorder called X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. There is no approved treatment for the disease yet. Viking Therapeutics carries above-average risk, as do all biotech companies without a single product on the market. But if VK2735 aces phase 3 results and earns approval -- and Viking's other candidates pan out as well -- the stock could deliver substantial returns. The verdict Amgen is a well-established company that generates consistent financial results. It also pays a dividend. It is a far better option for low-risk, income-seeking investors. There is no contest there. However, Viking Therapeutics has far more upside potential. If the smaller biotech can deliver solid pipeline and regulatory progress in the next few years, its shares will likely skyrocket. Note that the company also has significant potential drawbacks. It could be more appealing for investors with a higher tolerance for volatility. Should you invest $1,000 in Amgen right now? Before you buy stock in Amgen, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Amgen 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 $644,254!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $807,814!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is962% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to169%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amgen. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
