Company's Receptor Co-Agonists Demonstrate
Potent Body Weight Reductions, Decreased Food Intake and Improved
Metabolic Profile in Healthy Rats and Diet-Induced Obese
Mice
SAN
DIEGO, June 24, 2024 /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
the presentation of preclinical data from a series of internally
developed dual agonists of the amylin and calcitonin receptors at
the 84th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes
Association. The presentation highlights the effects of
treatment on body weight, food intake and metabolic profile in
healthy rats and diet-induced obese (DIO) mice as compared to
control cohorts treated with vehicle or the dual amylin and
calcitonin receptor agonist cagrilintide. The studies were
summarized in a poster presentation at the annual scientific
conference of the American Diabetes Association, being held
June 21-24, 2024, in Orlando, Florida.
The study results demonstrate that Viking's series of dual
amylin and calcitonin receptor agonists (DACRAs) reduced food
intake in lean rats in the period from 0 – 72 hours following a
single subcutaneous dosing. At 72 hours following a single
subcutaneous dose, Viking's novel compounds resulted in up to 8%
body weight reductions compared to vehicle-treated animals.
In a DIO mouse model, treatment with Viking's series of
co-agonists for 24 days resulted in body weight reductions that
were comparable to those achieved in cagrilintide-treated animals.
Additionally, improvements in key metabolic markers,
including blood glucose levels, were observed in DIO mice treated
with the company's compounds for the 24-day time period.
Highlights from poster 2024-LB-5842: Novel Amylin and
Calcitonin Receptor Co-Agonists Reduce Food Intake and Body Weight
in Rodents.
- Viking DACRAs demonstrated EC50 values ranging from
low nM to micromolar on the human amylin 3 receptor and a similar
range of potencies on the human calcitonin receptor.
- Treatment with single doses of Viking DACRAs resulted in up to
8% mean reductions in body weight in lean rats after 72 hours.
- Treatment of DIO mice for 24 days with Viking DACRA compounds
demonstrated up to 10% weight loss from baseline (p<0.05 vs.
baseline).
- Viking DACRA compounds demonstrated up to 24% reductions in
blood glucose in DIO mice after 24 days (p<0.05 vs. baseline and
cagrilintide control).
The results of these and other preclinical studies provide the
rationale for Viking's continued advancement of its internal dual
amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist development program.
"The amylin receptor plays an important role in food intake and
metabolic control, making it an attractive target for therapeutic
intervention in obesity," said Brian
Lian, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Viking. "These
data demonstrate the potent activity of a series of novel,
internally developed, amylin and calcitonin dual agonists and
represent an exciting expansion of our pipeline in obesity and
metabolic diseases. This program provides Viking with
additional opportunities to develop novel, differentiated therapies
for obesity with potentially best-in-class profiles."
About Amylin and Dual Amylin/Calcitonin Agonists
Amylin has important effects on glucose management, glucagon
production, gastric emptying time and satiety. Amylin analogs
have been shown to significantly reduce body weight and dosage of
insulin. Dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonists are the
most potent amylin receptor agonists. Cagrilintide is a dual
amylin/calcitonin receptor agonist that is currently in clinical
development.
About Viking Therapeutics, Inc.
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
company focused on the development of novel first-in-class or
best-in-class therapies for the treatment of metabolic and
endocrine disorders, with three compounds currently in clinical
trials. Viking's research and development activities leverage
its expertise in metabolism to develop innovative therapeutics
designed to improve patients' lives. Viking'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. The compound successfully
achieved both the primary and secondary endpoints in a recently
completed Phase 2b study for the treatment of
biopsy-confirmed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and
fibrosis. In a Phase 2a trial for the treatment of
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (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. Viking is also developing VK2735, a
novel dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and
glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors for
the potential treatment of various metabolic disorders. Data from a
Phase 1 and a Phase 2 trial evaluating VK2735 (dosed
subcutaneously) for metabolic disorders demonstrated an encouraging
safety and tolerability profile as well as positive signs of
clinical benefit. The company is also evaluating an oral
formulation of VK2735 in a Phase 1 trial. In the rare disease
space, Viking is developing VK0214, a novel, orally available,
small molecule selective thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist for
the potential treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy
(X-ALD). VK0214 is currently being evaluated in a
Phase 1b clinical trial in patients with the
adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) form of X-ALD.
For more information about Viking Therapeutics, please
visit www.vikingtherapeutics.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements
regarding Viking Therapeutics, Inc., under the safe harbor
provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, including statements about Viking's expectations regarding
its clinical and preclinical development programs, anticipated
timing for reporting clinical data and cash resources.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely
and reported results should not be considered as an indication of
future performance. These risks and uncertainties include,
but are not limited to: risks associated with the success, cost and
timing of Viking's product candidate development activities and
clinical trials, including those for VK2735, VK0214, VK2809, the
company's incretin receptor agonists, and its amylin and calcitonin
receptor agonists; risks that prior clinical and preclinical
results may not be replicated; risks regarding regulatory
requirements; and other risks that are described in Viking's most
recent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including Viking's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2023, and subsequent Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q, including the risk factors set forth in those
filings. These forward-looking statements speak only as of
the date hereof. Viking disclaims any obligation to update
these forward-looking statements except as required by law.
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SOURCE Viking Therapeutics, Inc.