VK-2735

Experienced Biotech Leader with More than Two Decades of Experience Advancing Therapies from Discovery through Regulatory Approval SAN DIEGO, June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (Viking) (NASDAQ: VKTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders, today announced the appointment of Hubert C. Chen, M.D., as chief medical officer. Dr. Chen brings more than two decades of leadership experience in senior executive roles spanning drug discovery, clinical development, regulatory strategy, and product approvals across multiple therapeutic areas. Dr. Chen will report to Brian Lian, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Viking Therapeutics, and oversee clinical development, medical, and regulatory affairs. "We are thrilled to welcome Hubert to Viking as we move our next-generation therapies through late-stage development and prepare for VK2735's potential commercialization," said Brian Lian, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Viking Therapeutics. "He is an accomplished physician, scientist, and biotechnology executive with an impressive combination of scientific, clinical, regulatory, and operational expertise, along with extensive knowledge of obesity, metabolic disorders, and endocrinology. With multiple clinical programs advancing, this is a critical time to expand Viking's leadership team. Hubert's proven track record and history of developing innovative therapies make him an excellent addition to the team." Prior to joining Viking, Dr. Chen served as chief research and development officer at Loyal Animal Health, where he led the first-ever FDA-negotiated effectiveness and safety requirements for longevity therapeutics. Previously, he was president and chief scientific officer at Forte Biosciences, chief medical officer at Metacrine, and chief scientific and medical officer at Pfenex. At Pfenex, he developed a novel clinical and regulatory strategy for Bonsity, a drug-device combination for high-risk osteoporosis, leading to approvals in the U.S. and E.U. Earlier in his career, Dr. Chen led obesity and type 2 diabetes programs at Amylin Pharmaceuticals, including combinatorial approaches using glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and amylin analogs. "Joining the Viking team at this exciting time of growth is an incredible opportunity, as obesity and metabolic disorders are among the most significant health challenges of our time, affecting nearly every aspect of long-term health and well-being," said Dr. Chen. "Viking's scientific rigor and innovation have enabled the company to become a leader in this field, with a strong pipeline aimed at overcoming the challenges of achieving and maintaining significant weight loss and the associated health benefits. I look forward to working with the Viking team to make meaningful improvements in people's health and lives as we advance these important therapies." Dr. Chen earned his M.D. from Columbia, completed his internal medicine residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, and his endocrinology fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. He has an undergraduate degree from Stanford and is an affiliate faculty at the University of California, San Diego. About Viking Therapeutics, Inc. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel first-in-class or best-in-class therapies for the treatment of metabolic and endocrine disorders. Viking's research and development activities leverage its expertise in metabolism to develop innovative therapeutics designed to improve patients' lives. Viking's clinical programs include VK2735, a novel dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors for the potential treatment of various metabolic disorders. The company is evaluating its subcutaneous formulation of VK2735 in a Phase 3 obesity program that includes two Phase 3 clinical trials (VANQUISH-1 and VANQUISH-2). Data from a Phase 1 and a Phase 2 trial evaluating subcutaneous VK2735 demonstrated an encouraging safety and tolerability profile as well as positive signs of clinical benefit. Concurrently, the company is evaluating an oral formulation of VK2735 in a Phase 2 trial in obesity. Viking is also developing VK2809, a novel, orally available, small molecule selective thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist for the treatment of lipid and metabolic disorders. The compound successfully achieved both the primary and secondary endpoints in a Phase 2b study for the treatment of biopsy-confirmed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis. In a Phase 2a trial for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and elevated LDL-C, patients who received VK2809 demonstrated statistically significant reductions in LDL-C and liver fat content compared with patients who received placebo. The company's newest program is evaluating a series of internally developed dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonists (or DACRAs) for the treatment of obesity and other metabolic disorders. In the rare disease space, Viking is developing VK0214, a novel, orally available, small molecule selective thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist for the potential treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). In a Phase 1b clinical trial in patients with the adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) form of X-ALD, VK0214 was shown to be safe and well-tolerated, while driving significant reductions in plasma levels of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and other lipids, as compared to placebo. For more information about Viking Therapeutics, please visit www.vikingtherapeutics.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Viking Therapeutics, Inc., under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about Viking's expectations regarding its clinical and preclinical development programs, anticipated timing for reporting clinical data and cash resources. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the success, cost and timing of Viking's product candidate development activities and clinical trials, including those for VK2735, VK0214, VK2809, and the company's other incretin and other receptor agonists; risks that prior clinical and preclinical results may not be replicated; risks regarding regulatory requirements; and other risks that are described in Viking's most recent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission including Viking's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including the risk factors set forth in those filings. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Viking disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law. SOURCE Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

点击上方蓝字，关注并星标我们 过去几年，以司美格鲁肽和替尔泊肽为代表的GLP-1药物，将代谢病治疗推至前所未有的高度。2025年，相关药物全球销售额约606亿美元，替尔泊肽更是以365亿美元的销售额夺得药王宝座。 然而，在这个光芒万丈的王座之下，却隐藏着被忽视的裂痕。真实世界中的依从性瓶颈、肌肉流失及疗效天花板，正催促赛道向下半场演进。虽然GLP-1热潮仍在，但代谢药物的下半场已经开始。 未来的竞争不再局限于减重数字的堆砌，而是转向代谢综合管理能力的更高维度较量。与此同时，一些新靶点，新机制药物脱颖而出，为患者带来更多的差异化获益。 多靶点协同：从“单激动剂”走向“通路”重构  目前，GLP-1赛道内部的演进逻辑已从单靶点走向多通路、多靶点的协同重构，业界普遍将减重药物的作用路径归纳为肠道轴、中枢轴、代谢轴三大路径。  肠道轴的多靶点联用是目前最成熟的演进方向之一。单靶点GLP-1主要通过抑制食欲与延迟胃排空起效，而引入GIP、胰高血糖素（GCGR）及胰淀素等具有互补作用的激素，则能实现“1+1>2”的突破。  今年5月21日，礼来公布了旗下GCG/GIP/GLP-1受体三重激动剂Retatrutide（瑞他鲁肽）的III期临床试验顶线结果。在TRIUMPH-1研究中，在治疗第80周时，接受9mg和12mg剂量治疗的受试者，平均体重分别下降了25.9%（64.4磅）和28.3%（70.3磅）；在针对基线BMI≥35的重度肥胖患者进行的扩展研究中，继续治疗至第104周的患者，平均体重降幅更是高达30.3%（85.0磅）。Retatrutide在统计学和临床意义上，具备了与减重外科手术相当的潜力。  更为激进的是，2026年《Nature》杂志发表的GLP-1R–GIPR–PPARα/γ/δ五重激动剂，研究者创新性地将GLP-1R–GIPR激动剂与过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体（PPAR）激动剂结合到了一起，PPAR参与体内脂质代谢、脂肪细胞分化、炎症等生理过程的调控。  研究者将PPAR三重激动剂lanifibranor共价连接到GLP-1R–GIPR双重激动剂的骨架上，生成五重激动分子GLP-1–GIP–Lani。  在肥胖糖尿病小鼠模型中，GLP-1–GIP–Lani不仅实现了减重与控糖效果的跨越式提升，还降低了肝脏甘油三酯并改善了心脏功能，同时未观察到心脏或肾脏的损伤。这一突破为未来代谢性疾病的协同药物研发提供了全新范式。  此外，国内博瑞医药研发的GLP-1/GIP双靶点受体激动剂BGM0504，通过保留K20位点游离氨基，同时将脂肪酸修饰从K20移动至肽链C端新增的K40位点，并延长linker结构，在维持白蛋白结合亲和力和延长血浆半衰期的同时，最大化释放GLP-1/GIP受体激动活性，实现了激动活性与药代动力学特性的更优平衡。  在减重III期临床研究中，BGM0504在超重或肥胖受试者中，高剂量组减重幅度达到19.3%，体重降低≥5%的受试者比例最高达到94.6%；而体重降低≥20%的受试者比例达到48.9%，接近一半受试者实现“深度减重”。 与此同时，BGM0504对血压、血脂、尿酸和糖代谢、骨密度增加等多项指标也展现出协同改善趋势，BGM0504展现了从“减重药”蜕变为“代谢综合管理候选者”的潜力。 ●中枢轴 中枢轴主要聚焦于中枢神经系统对食欲、饥饿感、奖赏路径的调控，目前研究较成熟的靶点有黑皮质素4受体（MC4R）等。  MC4R是中枢神经系统调控能量平衡的关键受体。目前全球共两款MC4R靶向药物获批上市：Rhythm Pharmaceutical公司的MC4R激动剂Setmelanotide和Palatin Technologies公司的Bremelanotide。另有多款处于临床及临床前的靶向MC4R的药物，包括小分子以及多肽类药物。  ●代谢轴 业界对代谢轴的探索正在打开更广阔的疆域，在该领域，FGF21、THR-β、GPR75及ASGR1等靶点，正从脂质代谢、肝脏保护与能量消耗的角度切入，尤其针对MASH（代谢相关脂肪性肝炎）等并发症展现出独特价值。 剂型革命与综合获益：口服制剂的突围 虽然GLP-1受体激动剂缔造了千亿级的商业神话，但真实世界中的依从性瓶颈是长期未解难题。在一项针对丹麦7.7万余名首次使用司美格鲁肽用户的追踪显示，超过半数在一年内停药；慕尼黑再保险对美国4100万投保人的研究也证实，约三分之二的患者在一年内中断治疗，非糖尿病人群的持续用药率更是不足30%。而且研究显示，司美格鲁肽停药后，一年内平均体重反弹超过初始体重的11%，心血管保护窗口随之缩小。  因此，提升患者依从性是GLP-1下半场打破市场壁垒的利剑。然而，口服小分子的研发之路充满坎坷。辉瑞的Danuglipron因肝毒性终止研发，另一款PF-06954522也遭叫停，凸显了小分子药物在安全性上的长期挑战。礼来的Orforglipron虽推进至三期，但其72周减重11.5%的数据低于市场预期的15%，引发股价震荡。尽管数据不及预期，但作为口服药，Orforglipron仍有优势。  此外，诺和诺德的amycretin、Viking的VK2735、罗氏收购的CT-996和Rhythm的bivamelagon等药物各有特色，通过不同机制和给药方式，有望填补口服市场的空白。  综上，在GLP-1下半场的多维较量中，单纯的减重百分比已不再是唯一标尺，对整套代谢系统的重塑能力，依从性几何，正成为拉开差距的核心。在此背景下，以BGM0504为代表的中国创新力量正以独特的分子设计重塑赛道标准。下半场的赢家，必将是那些为患者提供全生命周期代谢保护的创新者。 参考来源： 1. Liskiewicz, D., Novikoff, A., Khalil, A. et al. GLP-1R–GIPR–PPARα/γ/δ quintuple agonism corrects obesity and diabetes in mice. Nature (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10427-5. 2. Yuan, J., Liu, W., Jiang, X. et al. Molecular dynamics-guided optimization of BGM0504 enhances dual-target agonism for combating diabetes and obesity. Sci Rep 14, 16680 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66998-8. 声明：本内容仅用作行业信息传播，为作者独立观点，不代表研界OmniSci立场，也不构成任何投资与医疗建议。如需转载，请务必注明文章作者与来源。 扫码领取CPHI & PMEC China2026门票 关注研界OmniSci 探索生物制造无限可能