Featured Company News – Viking Therapeutics’ VK2809 Shows Encouraging Results in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

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LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 8, 2017 / Pro-Trader Daily takes a look at the latest corporate events and news making the headlines for Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: VKTX). The Biopharma Company announced on June 06, 2017, that its drug candidate VK2809 showed positive top line results during a preclinical study in an in vivo model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH is a type of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The study which was conducted on mice showed several improvements on certain key indicators related to the development and progression of NASH. For immediate access to our complimentary reports, including today’s coverage, register for free now at:

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Commenting on the development, Brian Lian, Ph.D., CEO of Viking said:

“We are excited about the initial results from this study, as they demonstrate promising effects in a model of NASH that we believe reflects many characteristics of the disease in humans. The robust effect across multiple disease metrics, including reductions in collagen and lipotoxic lipids suggests potential benefits on endpoints important in NASH. The observed reductions in hepatic collagen content and fibrosis, by morphometric analysis, are particularly noteworthy, as these data represent the first quantitative histologic evidence that treatment with a thyromimetic agent can potentially improve NASH-related fibrosis. These results provide further support for the development of VK2809 in these settings.”

Viking is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical Company that focuses on the development of therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Its lead clinical program is VK5211, an orally available drug candidate, which is in a phase-II clinical trials for acute rehabilitation following non-elective hip fracture surgery.

The key findings of the preclinical study of VK2809

The preclinical study to evaluate VK2809 was done using a mouse model of diet-induced NASH wherein the oral dosage of VK2809 (10 mg/kg/day) was given for eight weeks. The controlled sample group received either vehicle or active control (a metabolic-targeting agent currently in late-stage clinical development for NASH). The sample animals were also biopsied before the treatment to make sure that their disease characteristics were consistent with the human form of the disease, including the presence of fibrosis.

The preliminary findings indicated the following:

Liver triglyceride content was reduced by 70% compared to vehicle control (p<0.0001), and by 56% compared to active control (p<0.0001)
Liver cholesterol content was reduced by 65% compared to vehicle control (p<0.0001) and by 58% compared to active control (p<0.0001)
Liver fibrosis was reduced by 50% compared to vehicle control (p=0.01) and by 21% compared to active control (p=0.3)
Liver collagen content was reduced by 60% compared to vehicle control (p<0.005) and by 49% compared to active control (p=0.07)
Liver hydroxyproline content was reduced by 46% compared to vehicle control (p=0.01) and by 36% compared to active control (p=0.06)

Apart from this the animals treated with VK2809 experienced a 40% mean improvement in NAS after eight weeks. Nearly 50% of animals treated with VK2809 demonstrated at least a two-point improvement in NAS, compared with no vehicle-treated animals. The study also revealed that the treatment using VK2809 resulted in reductions in plasma triglycerides and cholesterol. This observation is consistent with the previously-reported data. VK2809 demonstrated promising safety and tolerability and no unexpected or abnormal laboratory findings were recorded for all the animals receiving this scheduled dosage during treatment.

About VK2809

Viking has been developing a unique series of selective thyroid hormone receptor beta agonists for lipid disorders and one of them is its lead drug candidate VK2809. VK2809 is an orally available small molecule thyroid receptor beta (TRβ) agonist that possesses selectivity for liver tissue, as well as the beta receptor subtype, suggesting promising therapeutic potential in a range of lipid disorders.

Viking is conducting a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group Phase-2 study to determine VK2809’s efficacy, safety and tolerability in patients with elevated LDL-C (low density lipoprotein – shows the level of cholesterol in blood) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The data from the Company’s previous clinical studies have demonstrated that treatment with VK2809 leads to significant reductions in plasma triglycerides, LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), and atherogenic protein levels in subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia. Hypercholesterolemia, also called dyslipidemia, is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood.

About NASH

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition in which fat builds up in the liver. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a type of NAFLD. It leads to inflammation and liver cell damage, along with fat in the liver. It develops most often in patients with at least one of the following risk factors like obesity, dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance.

In advanced stages, NASH can cause cirrhosis (Chronic liver damage from a variety of causes leading to scarring and liver failure) and portal hypertension. Portal hypertension is an increase in the blood pressure within a system of veins called the portal venous system.

Last Close Stock Review

At the closing bell, on Wednesday, June 07, 2017, Viking Therapeutics’ stock rose 2.38%, ending the trading session at $1.29. A total volume of 75.17 thousand shares were traded at the end of the day. In the last six months, shares of the Company have surged 17.27%. Moreover, the stock gained 8.40% since the start of the year. At Wednesday’s closing price, the stock’s net capitalization stands at $30.34 million.

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