| Wednesday | ||||
Viking Therapeutics… Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) shares traded down ~20% following the Phase 2 interim data of pemvidutide announced by Altimmune (ALT), a competing GLP-1/glucagon program in obesity, Stifel tells investors in a research note. The firm believes this reaction is undeserved due to it being a different compound altogether. Further, Stifel argues a better benchmark for comparison is Eli Lilly's (LLY) Mounjaro. Viking's VK2735 is approaching Phase 1b SAD/MAD data before the end of Q1, which the firm believes will serve to set safety/tolerability expectations and elucidate points of differentiation. Stifel reiterated a Buy rating and a $22 price target on the stock. | ||||
| Tuesday | ||||
Shares of Viking… Shares of Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) trading down on concerns stemming from Altimmune's (ALT) "underwhelming" date this morning, William Blair the analyst tells investors in a research note. The analyst emphasizes that Viking's VK2735 is a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist on track to have first-in-human data in obese individuals later this morning or in April. In contrast, Altimmune's pemvidutide is a dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist with a different mechanism of action, and therefore has limited read-through to Viking. In addition, Blair says the bullish thesis on Viking remains on its non-alcoholic steatohepatitis asset, VK2809. It is a buyer of the stock on the selloff and keeps an Outperform rating on the name. | ||||
Bullish option flow… Bullish option flow detected in Viking Therapeutics with 13,311 calls trading, 4x expected, and implied vol increasing almost 38 points to 132.00%. Apr-23 14 calls and Apr-23 15 calls are the most active options, with total volume in those strikes near 3,600 contracts. The Put/Call Ratio is 0.35. Earnings are expected on April 26th. | ||||
| Over a week ago | ||||
Stifel analyst Annabel… Stifel analyst Annabel Samimy initiated coverage of Viking Therapeutics with a Buy rating and $22 price target, telling investors that the firm views the stock as "a stronger value proposition to play the NASH and obesity markets." VK2809 is approaching Phase 2b data with "a strong early profile of liver fat reduction, proven correlation with NASH/fibrosis reduction, and highly specific liver targeting that could offer better tolerability," the firm said. | ||||
Bullish option flow… Bullish option flow detected in Viking Therapeutics with 3,290 calls trading, 2x expected, and implied vol increasing almost 3 points to 92.34%. Apr-23 16 calls and Mar-23 11 calls are the most active options, with total volume in those strikes near 2,300 contracts. The Put/Call Ratio is 0.06. Earnings are expected on April 26th. | ||||
Bullish option flow… Bullish option flow detected in Viking Therapeutics with 5,327 calls trading, 1.1x expected, and implied vol increasing over 10 points to 82.49%. Mar-23 13 calls and Mar-23 12 calls are the most active options, with total volume in those strikes near 4,300 contracts. The Put/Call Ratio is 0.05. Earnings are expected on April 26th. | ||||
Biotechnology Analyst… Biotechnology Analyst Hsieh provides a preview of the upcoming first-in-human data of VK2735, the dual GLP-1/GIP agonist from Viking Therapeutics on an Analyst/Industry conference call to be held on February 24 at 12 pm. Webcast Link | ||||
Biotechnology Analyst… Biotechnology Analyst Hsieh provides a preview of the upcoming first-in-human data of VK2735, the dual GLP-1/GIP agonist from Viking Therapeutics on an Analyst/Industry conference call to be held on February 24 at 12 pm. Webcast Link | ||||
Biotechnology Analyst… Biotechnology Analyst Hsieh provides a preview of the upcoming first-in-human data of VK2735, the dual GLP-1/GIP agonist from Viking Therapeutics on an Analyst/Industry conference call to be held on February 24 at 12 pm. Webcast Link | ||||
Oppenheimer analyst Jay… Oppenheimer analyst Jay Olson raised the firm's price target on Viking Therapeutics to $20 from $17 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm views VK2735 as an underappreciated asset for Viking with a large potential opportunity in obesity. Oppenheimer added that it believes the Phase 1 data for VK2735 expected in Q1 could unlock substantial shareholder value, and its scenario analysis forecasts +20% probability-weighted upside. | ||||
