Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

Overview

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Its pipeline includes VK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist being developed for metabolic disorders including obesity, and VK2809 and VK0214, oral selective thyroid hormone receptor-beta agonists being developed for metabolic disease and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, respectively. The company’s website describes its aim as “Improving life and health through next-generation science.” [1]+5

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Diego, California, Viking also lists subsidiaries in Adelaide, Australia, and Dublin, Ireland. It remains clinical-stage; its 2025 annual filing reported no revenue.[7]+3 [1]+10

Products & services

Viking’s lead candidate, VK2735, is a long-acting dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist being developed for obesity and related metabolic disorders as both a once-weekly subcutaneous injection and an oral tablet. Its subcutaneous formulation is in Phase 3 trials for obesity, including in people with type 2 diabetes; the oral formulation completed Phase 2, and the company said it expected to begin oral Phase 3 in Q4 2026. In a 13-week Phase 2 study, oral VK2735 produced weight reductions of up to 12.2% from baseline.[10]+4 VK3019 is a novel amylin agonist: Viking filed an investigational new drug application in April 2026 and began a Phase 1 single-ascending-dose trial in June. The company also reports preclinical work on dual amylin/calcitonin receptor agonists (DACRAs), including animal studies of food intake, body weight, and metabolic effects.[15][16]

VK2809 is an orally available, tissue- and receptor-subtype-selective thyroid hormone receptor-beta agonist studied for NASH/MASH. Its Phase 2b VOYAGE trial enrolled patients with F1–F3 fibrosis and assessed liver-fat change at 12 weeks and liver histology at 52 weeks.[17]+2 VK0214 is another oral, selective TR-beta agonist, studied for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy; in a Phase 1b study in adult men with adrenomyeloneuropathy, it reduced plasma very-long-chain fatty acids and other lipids versus placebo.[19]+2 Viking has disputed Ligand’s purported termination of the license covering VK2809 and VK0214, and says loss of rights could prevent further development or commercialization of those candidates.[22]

VK5211 is an oral, non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator studied to support lean-mass recovery after hip-fracture surgery; its Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial met its primary endpoint and showed increased lean body mass. Viking has said it intends to pursue a partner or licensee before further studies of VK5211 and VK0214.[23][21] The company’s disclosed pipeline also includes VK0612 in Phase 2 and preclinical DGAT-1 and EPOR programs, although the cited pipeline disclosure does not specify VK0612’s indication, route, or mechanism.[16][24] Viking reported no revenue as of June 30, 2026, so it had no product-sales contribution percentages to report.[16] [10]+14

Geographic presence

Viking Therapeutics is based in San Diego, California. Its 2025 annual filing described its facilities as office space in San Diego and reported 53 full-time employees at December 31, 2025, but did not break employees down by location. The company’s Q2 2026 filing lists its principal executive office at Suite 500, 9920 Pacific Heights Blvd., San Diego.[25]+2

The company’s filings do not provide a comprehensive geographic breakdown of clinical operations. A Viking study poster identifies U.S. research institutions in Alabama, Kentucky, Texas, Missouri, and New York, but does not establish the full footprint of its trials.[28] Viking reported no revenue in 2025, 2024, or 2023, and does not disclose revenue by country or region.[29] [25]+5

Business segments

Viking Therapeutics reports one consolidated reportable segment. Its focus is developing novel first-in-class or best-in-class therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders; the company does not report separate segments by therapeutic area or drug candidate.[30][2]

The Q2 2026 filing, for the period ended June 30, 2026, is the latest available reporting cited here and confirms the single-segment structure. The filings provide no percentage breakdown of revenue, assets, or other contributions among therapeutic areas or candidates, so no finer segment percentages can be stated.[30][31] [30]+2

Company history

Viking Therapeutics was incorporated in Delaware in September 2012. Brian Lian is identified as a founder, and the company’s early development programs were established through a 2014 license agreement with Ligand Pharmaceuticals.[32][33] Viking completed its initial public offering in 2015.[34]

In the following years, Viking advanced several licensed drug candidates into clinical testing. Its VK5211 program entered a Phase 2 trial in 2015 and reported positive topline results in 2017; VK2809 began Phase 2 testing in 2016 and reported positive results in 2018.[35]+2

Viking initiated clinical studies of VK0214 in 2020 and 2021, including a Phase 1b study in people with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.[38][39] In 2023, it began Phase 2 testing of VK2735, reporting positive topline results from the subcutaneous Phase 2 trial in 2024; it also reported positive 52-week results from the VK2809 VOYAGE study that year.[40]+2 In June 2025, Viking started Phase 3 trials of subcutaneous VK2735, and in June 2026 it initiated a Phase 1 study of the amylin-receptor agonist VK3019.[43][44] [33]+12

Sources

• Viking Therapeutics, Inc. — Full financial report (2025 Y)
  15 citations

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• vikingtherapeutics.com[6]
• www.sec.gov[9]
• Viking Therapeutics, Inc. — Press release (2026 Q 2)
  4 citations

  [10][11][12][13]
• Viking Therapeutics, Inc. — Full financial report (2026 Q 2)
  14 citations

  [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][27][30][31]
• vikingtherapeutics.com[28]
• www.sec.gov[32]
• Viking Therapeutics, Inc. — Full financial report (2015 Y)[33]
• ir.vikingtherapeutics.com[34]
• ir.vikingtherapeutics.com[35]
• ir.vikingtherapeutics.com[36]
• ir.vikingtherapeutics.com[37]
• ir.vikingtherapeutics.com[43]
• ir.vikingtherapeutics.com[44]