The experimental weight loss pill developed by Viking Therapeutics shows a lot of promise. What the latest study says

Obesity is becoming a global concern, and Viking Therapeutics is showing promising results for an experimental weight loss treatment.

The experimental weight loss pill developed by Viking Therapeutics shows great promise, according to the latest study

The experimental tablet developed by Viking Therapeutics reduced weight by up to 3.3 percent when tested on volunteers enrolled in a small early-stage study, meeting Wall Street expectations and sending the company’s shares up 15 percent in premarket trading from Tuesday. Popular market leaders Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk already have subcutaneous drugs for obesity management, Viking Therapeutics aims to offer a more convenient oral alternative, Reuters reports.

This approach could facilitate treatment for patients and open new possibilities for people suffering from obesity.

According to data reported by Viking Therapeutics, those who received the highest dose of 40 milligrams of the drug in question, called VK2735, experienced an average weight reduction of 3.3 percent over the course of 28 days of treatment. This figure is all the more significant considering that the drug’s side effects were considered mild and moderate in severity.

David Song, an investment partner at ETF-operator Tema ETFs, pointed out that Viking’s drug meets market expectations for weight loss. Compared to Novo Nordisk’s amycretin pill, which showed similar efficacy at higher doses, VK2735 appears to offer a promising alternative in the fight against obesity.

Although the results are still in the early stages, the company has ambitious plans for the future of the drug’s development. It plans to continue the studies to test higher doses of the drug and initiate an interim phase trial in obese patients. This could open new perspectives for the treatment and management of obesity, offering hope for millions of people around the world.

See also: FDA approves drug for anemia caused by chronic kidney disease

Obesity rates have increased significantly in recent decades

Obesity has become an alarming global problem, currently affecting populations worldwide, regardless of their level of economic development. The question of the number of overweight or obese people, both among adults and children, is one of major interest, but the answer is difficult to obtain, given the complex and vast nature of this problem.

Available estimates and data vary considerably between regions and research sources, reflecting a certain lack of clarity and consistency in addressing the obesity phenomenon globally. However, all these sources converge on an alarming conclusion: obesity rates have increased significantly in recent decades, and this epidemic shows no signs of abating without sustained and focused efforts to combat this public health problem.

One of the most recent and careful global estimates finds that about 500 million adults are obese (defined as having a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or higher). This is almost 10% of men and 14% of women – and is almost double the obesity rate since 1980.

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