Investors Eye Viking Therapeutics Amid Competitive GLP-1 Market

Investors should focus on Viking Therapeutics as Wall Street shows strong bullish sentiment. The company is in the race with giants like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, especially with the potential approval of its oral GLP-1 candidate VK2735, promising a significant upside.

Date: 02-02-2025

AI Rating: 6

**Market Dynamics for GLP-1 Medications**

Medications known as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are rapidly growing in the healthcare industry, making companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly major players. Viking Therapeutics is also gaining attention due to its promising candidate, VK2735, which may revolutionize obesity treatment with a potential oral tablet format.

Currently, Viking’s shares are around $34, with a bullish consensus price target of $110 among analysts, indicating a significant upside potential. However, the company is in the early stages of a 13-week phase 2 trial for VK2735, which is essential before any FDA approval. The excitement is tempered by the inherent risks involved in drug development, and investors should be cautious.

**Viking’s Marketplace Position**

Viking is positioned within a competitive environment where dominant players like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are aggressively developing next-generation medications. Viking would have significant operational challenges in both mass production and marketing post-FDA approval.

**Valuation Perspectives**

Analyst Jared Holz suggested that Viking could be a potential acquisition target, estimating a valuation of around $15 billion owing to its market potential. This aligns with estimated sales figures for Eli Lilly’s products, reflecting Viking's competitive standing in the market.

Viking has notably achieved a 58% increase in stock value over the past year, outperforming significant indices such as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite. This suggests a robust market interest, although recent downward trends could indicate overvaluation risks, warranting investor caution.

**Investor Guidance**

With the prospect of clinical developments and uncertain timelines for FDA approvals, investors should view Viking as a speculative opportunity. Those with a high appetite for risk may find it worthwhile to engage with Viking, while more conservative investors might be better off with established options in the GLP-1 sector like Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly.

Stocks: NVO LLY VKTX