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Investing.com - H.C. Wainwright maintained its buy rating and $102.00 price target on Viking Therapeutic (NASDAQ:VKTX) stock on Wednesday, representing significant upside from the current price of $25.96. According to InvestingPro data, analyst targets for VKTX range from $30 to $125, with the company maintaining a strong financial health score of GOOD.
The research firm cited strong efficacy data for Viking’s subcutaneous VK2735, noting the drug has demonstrated results that position it well in the obesity treatment market with a tolerability profile comparable to FDA-approved agents and competing development programs.
H.C. Wainwright expressed support for Viking’s strategy to develop a monthly maintenance dosing regimen, suggesting this approach could improve patient adherence, support long-term weight control, and increase convenience for users.
The firm also highlighted potential advantages of Viking’s oral formulation of VK2735, including benefits for needle-averse patients and simpler manufacturing processes compared to injectable pens, while acknowledging that absorption and efficacy questions represent a key bear case against oral GLP-1 medications.
Early data from oral VK2735 has been encouraging according to H.C. Wainwright, which supports the firm’s continued positive outlook on the drug’s development path and commercial potential.
In other recent news, Viking Therapeutics reported a net loss of $0.41 per share for the first quarter of 2025, missing analysts’ expectations of a $0.33 loss per share. Despite the earnings miss, the company maintains a strong cash position with $852 million on hand. The firm is progressing with its VK2735 program, with Phase 3 trials for the subcutaneous formulation set to begin in the second quarter of 2025. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage of Viking Therapeutics with an Overweight rating and a $104 price target, citing the potential of the company’s lead drug candidate, VK2735. H.C. Wainwright reiterated a Buy rating with a $102 price target, expressing confidence in the company’s financial stability and its VK2735 program. Viking Therapeutics is also advancing its Dual Amylin and Calcitonin Receptor Agonist (DACRA) Program, with an IND filing anticipated in the second half of 2025. The company has secured a manufacturing agreement with CordenPharma for the active pharmaceutical ingredient and final product supply of VK2735, both in oral and subcutaneous forms. These developments underscore Viking Therapeutics’ strategic positioning in the obesity treatment landscape.
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