Viking Therapeutics has started two phase 3 trials, SUNRISE-1 and SUNRISE-2, for the oral form of its weight loss drug VK2735, alongside its ongoing injectable phase 3 trials. Investors had been shaken by the phase 2 oral trial (VENTURE-Oral), where 20% of treated participants discontinued due to adverse events and the stock fell sharply, although efficacy over 13 weeks was good. The author argues the phase 3 design is different: 13% of the phase 2 placebo group also stopped due to adverse events, phase 2 used a more aggressive titration, and phase 3 runs 68 weeks. CEO Brian Lian said that in phase 2 patients took 4 tablets that were fairly large, and phase 3 aims for smaller tablets and fewer of them. Phase 3 doses are also lower, at 27.5 mg, 35 mg and 55 mg, compared with 15 mg to 120 mg in phase 2.
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