SAN DIEGO, May 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Viking Therapeutics,
Inc. (Viking) (Nasdaq: VKTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic
and endocrine disorders, today announced a change to its 2020
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Due to conditions associated
with the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), including restrictions on
in-person gatherings, and in order to support the health and
well-being of our stockholders and other meeting participants,
Viking's 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held in a
virtual meeting format only.
The previously announced date and time of the Annual Meeting,
May 21, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time, will not change.
There is also no change to the items of business to be addressed at
the Annual Meeting, which are described in Viking's proxy materials
as previously distributed. The proxy materials are available
at http://astproxyportal.com/ast/20061/.
As noted above, stockholders may not attend the Annual Meeting
in person. Instead, stockholders should follow the
instructions provided below to attend the virtual Annual
Meeting. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
(AST) will host the virtual Annual Meeting and tabulate votes for
the meeting.
Stockholders are encouraged to vote their shares prior to the
virtual Annual Meeting by any of the methods described in the proxy
materials. The proxy card and voting instruction form
included with the previously distributed proxy materials will not
be updated to reflect the change in the format of the meeting, but
they may continue to be used to vote the shares on the proposals to
be presented at the virtual Annual Meeting. Stockholders who
have previously voted do not need to take any further action.
Instructions to Attend the Annual Meeting
Record Holders: Holders of record of Viking common
stock at the close of business on March 31,
2020 (i.e., shares held in holder's own name in the records
of Viking's transfer agent, AST), may attend the virtual Annual
Meeting by visiting https://web.lumiagm.com/255403211 and
entering the 11-digit control number in previously provided proxy
materials. The password for the virtual Annual Meeting is
viking2020. Stockholders of record who have
misplaced their 11-digit control number, should
contact AST at (800) 973-5449.
Beneficial Owners: Beneficial owners of common stock of
Viking at the close of business on March 31,
2020 (i.e., shares held in "street name" through an
intermediary, such as a bank, broker or other nominee), must
register in advance to attend the virtual Annual Meeting. To
register, beneficial owners must obtain a legal proxy
from the bank, broker or other nominee that is the record holder of
the shares and then submit the legal proxy, along with their
name and email address, to AST to receive an 11-digit control
number. This control number can then be used to access the virtual
Annual Meeting site provided above. Please note that any
control number that was previously provided with proxy materials,
likely a 16-digit number, will not provide access to the virtual
Annual Meeting site. All requests for registration and submission
of legal proxies should be labeled as "Legal Proxy" and must be
received by AST no later than 5:00 p.m.
Pacific Time, on May 18,
2020. All requests should be submitted by email to
proxy@astfinancial.com, by facsimile to (718) 765-8730 or by mail
to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, Attn: Proxy
Tabulation Department, 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219. Obtaining a legal
proxy may take several days and stockholders are advised to
register as far in advance as possible. Once an 11-digit
control number is obtained from AST, please follow the steps set
forth above for stockholders of record to attend the virtual Annual
Meeting.
Technical Assistance
Participants are encouraged to access the Annual Meeting prior
to the start time. Online check-in will begin at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time. Please allow ample
time for the check-in procedures. Technicians will be ready to
assist with any technical difficulties prior to the start of the
virtual Annual Meeting. Stockholders of record and beneficial
owners should call AST at (800) 937-5449 with any questions
regarding the virtual Annual Meeting. If you encounter any
difficulty accessing the virtual Annual Meeting, please visit
https://go.lumiglobal.com/faq for assistance.
The virtual Annual Meeting platform is fully supported across
browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and Safari) and
devices (desktops, laptops, tablets and cell phones) running the
most updated version of applicable software and plugins.
Participants should ensure that they have a strong Internet
connection wherever they intend to participate in the Annual
Meeting. Participants should also give themselves ample time to log
in and ensure that they can hear streaming audio prior to the start
of the Annual Meeting.
About Viking Therapeutics, Inc.
Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
company focused on the development of novel, orally available,
first-in-class or best-in-class therapies for the treatment of
metabolic and endocrine disorders. Viking's research and
development activities leverage its expertise in metabolism to
develop innovative therapeutics designed to improve patients'
lives. The company's clinical programs include VK2809, a
novel, orally available, small molecule selective thyroid hormone
receptor beta agonist for the treatment of lipid and metabolic
disorders, which is currently being evaluated in a Phase
2b study for the treatment of
biopsy-confirmed NASH and fibrosis. In a Phase 2 trial for
the treatment of NAFLD and elevated LDL-C, patients who received
VK2809 demonstrated statistically significant reductions in LDL-C
and liver fat content compared with patients who received
placebo. The company is also developing VK0214, a novel,
orally available, small molecule selective thyroid hormone receptor
beta agonist for the treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy
(X-ALD).
Viking's other programs include VK5211, an orally available,
non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM).
In a Phase 2 trial in patients recovering from hip fracture,
patients who received VK5211 experienced significant improvements
in measures of lean body mass compared with patients who received
placebo. Other programs also include earlier-stage programs
targeting metabolic diseases and anemia. The company holds
exclusive worldwide rights to a portfolio of five therapeutic
programs, including those noted above, which are based on small
molecules licensed from Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.
Follow Viking on Twitter @Viking_VKTX.
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SOURCE Viking Therapeutics, Inc.