Quite a few corporations within the healthcare sector are feverishly busy creating weight problems medication, as these merchandise have taken the medical world by storm. One of many extra outstanding builders, clinical-stage biotech Viking Therapeutics (VKTX +0.04%), noticed its share value rise by virtually 4% on Thursday on the again of encouraging analysis a couple of sure property of such therapies.
The inventory’s rise was greater than adequate to convincingly beat the 0.3% bump larger of the benchmark S&P 500 index on the day.
Sudden advantages
Not solely are weight problems medication efficient in lowering physique weight, it appears they’ve knock-on results on sure well being circumstances, too — which is among the main causes buyers have been scorching on corporations promoting or creating them.

Picture supply: Getty Pictures.
Thursday morning, a report revealed on Fox Information’s web site detailed a brand new examine indicating that GLP-1 agonists (substances that mimic a hormone that produces a sense of satiety after consuming) can have a constructive impact on a very bothersome pores and skin situation. That is hidradenitis suppurativa, which is characterised by small lumps that develop beneath the pores and skin.
Citing analysis carried out by a gaggle of French medical doctors and revealed within the JAMA Dermatology medical journal, the media outlet wrote that GLP-1 agonists seem to have common anti-inflammatory properties. On the very least it appears they may assist in the therapy of hidradenitis suppurativa; the researchers discovered that administration of GLP-1s had been “helpful” to the situation.
Double barreled
Viking’s VK2735 is definitely a twin agonist, because it targets not solely the GLP-1 receptor but in addition a receptor generally known as glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).
Regardless, because it’s partially a GLP-1 agonist, it is doubtless, if this analysis is correct, to profit these with hidradenitis suppurativa. That might add considerably to its worth if Viking manages to completely develop and finally commercialize the very promising drug.