By David Bautz, PhD

NASDAQ:VKTX

Business Update

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) is a biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company’s lead compounds include:

1) VK5211, which is being developed for acute rehabilitation following non-elective hip fracture surgery.

- Viking anticipates data from the ongoing Phase 2 study of VK5211 in hip fracture in mid-2017.

2) VK2809, which is being developed for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver disease, with work set to begin in the second half of 2017 in glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD Ia).

- Viking anticipates data from the ongoing Phase 2 study of VK2809 in fatty liver disease later in 2017, and to initiate a human proof-of-concept study in GSD Ia in the second half of 2017.

3) VK0214, which is being developed for the treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD).

- A long-term study in an in vivo model of X-ALD is currently ongoing, with results expected in the second quarter of 2017.

VK5211

Viking’s most advanced drug candidate is VK5211, a third-generation non-steroidal Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) that is being developed for maintenance or improvement of lean body mass (LBM), bone mineral density (BMD), and function in patients recovering from non-elective hip fracture surgery. Hip fracture is associated with a number of morbidities, the majority of which are the result of deleterious changes in body composition following the injury. In the first year after a hip fracture, fat mass increases by up to 7% (Karlsson et al., 1996) while lean mass decreases by up to 11% (Fox et al., 2000). This is in comparison to healthy older females who lose approximately 1% of lean mass per year and gain approximately 1.7% in fat mass (Karlsson et al., 2000).

SARMs are a group of compounds designed to act as androgen receptor (AR) agonists in muscle and bone while being partial agonists in other areas of the body (e.g., prostate). The most prominent androgen, testosterone, stimulates the growth of muscle and bone (anabolic effects) as well as the prostate and sebaceous glands (androgenic effects), and is considered a non-tissue-selective androgen.

While androgens inhibit fat accumulation and increase skeletal muscle growth, two properties that make them ideal therapeutic candidates for restoring or preserving body composition following hip fracture, the use of testosterone therapy has a number of side effects including prostate growth (Meikle et al., 1997) and polycythemia (Snyder et al., 2000) in men and acne, alopecia, and hirsutism in women (Phillips et al., 1997) that precludes its use in a large number of patients. Thus, what would be most beneficial would be a product that provided the anabolic effects of androgen therapy with limited androgenic effects.

VK5211 was originally developed by Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (LGND) and was previously tested in preclinical models and early stage clinical trials. Two Phase 1 clinical trials showed the drug to be safe and well-tolerated at all doses following daily oral administration for up to 21 days. The drug selectively activates AR in muscle and bone, stimulating muscle and bone growth, while avoiding undesirable side effects, such as unwanted hair growth, acne, or prostate growth.

To examine the safety and physiological changes that occur after 13 weeks of VK5211 dosing, cynomolgus monkeys were orally administered VK5211 once daily at 0, 0.6, 3, 15, or 75 mg/kg. The following figure shows a significant increase in body weight in both male and female monkeys during the 13 weeks of dosing. The fact that the results were seen in females is important, as the majority of hip fractures occur in females.

VK5211 Phase 2 Clinical Trial

In November 2015, Viking initiated a Phase 2 study in patients ≥ 65 years of age who have suffered a hip fracture within the past three to seven weeks. This is a multicenter, randomized, parallel group, double blind, placebo controlled trial, where patients are being administered placebo or 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, or 2.0 mg of VK5211 once-daily for 12 weeks (NCT02578095). A total of 120 patients are expected to enroll in the trial evenly split between the four treatment groups. The primary outcome of the trial is the change in LBM after 12 weeks of treatment. Secondary and exploratory endpoints include assessments of functional performance, quality-of-life, and activities of daily living. In the fourth quarter update, Viking noted that the study is continuing to enroll patients and that results should be available in mid-2017. We anticipate the company meeting with the FDA following release of the data to determine the next steps, including the design of future studies. At this point it is difficult to estimate the size and costs of these future studies and we’ll await further guidance from the company once they’ve had a chance to meet with the FDA.

VK2809

VK2809 (formerly known as MB07811) is a novel, orally available, selective thyroid hormone receptor (TR) agonist that is in development for lipid disorders such as hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver disease. It was originally developed by Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc., which was acquired by Ligand in 2009. The compound has been tested in multiple preclinical models as well as two Phase 1 clinical trials.

There are two major isoforms of TR, TRα and TRβ, which are encoded by separate genes. TRα and TRβ also have markedly different expression patterns, with TRα expression highest in the heart and brain while TRβ expression is highest in the liver (Bookout et al., 2006). VK2809 is a prodrug of a potent TRb agonist that is converted to the active compound through cleavage by the liver specific cytochrome P450 isoenzyme CYP3A4 (Erion et al., 2007). The activated form of the drug has approximately 16-fold higher affinity for TRβ (Ki = 2.2 nM) than for TRα (Ki = 35.2 nM).

On April 8, 2016, Viking presented positive Phase 1b clinical data for VK2809 in patients with hypercholesterolemia in a poster session at the 65^th Annual Scientific Session and Expo of the American College of Cardiology. The Phase 1b trial was a 14-day, placebo controlled trial in patients with mild hypercholesterolemia (defined as baseline LDL cholesterol of at least 100 mg/dL). VK2809 was shown to be safe and well tolerated in doses ranging from 0.25 mg to 40 mg per day. No serious adverse events were reported and the frequency of adverse events in VK2809-treated subjects was similar to placebo-treated subjects. There were also no differences in heart rate, heart rhythm, or blood pressure between VK2809 and placebo-treated patients.

Results from the trial showed that treatment with VK2809 resulted in statistically significant placebo-adjusted reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol of 15.2% at the 5 mg dose to 41.2% at the 20 mg dose (p In addition to the results shown above, statistically significant reductions of lipoprotein a (Lp(a)) and apolipoprotein B (Apo(B)), which are believed to be positively associated with a patient’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease, were observed in certain cohorts as shown in the following figure.
The therapeutic importance of reducing atherogenic proteins has recently been highlighted in scientific literature. A report published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings stated that Lp(a) was an independent, causal, risk factor for atherosclerosis, and that epidemiologic data show a continuous association between Lp(a) and CVD that is multiplied when both LDL-C and Lp(a) are elevated (Jacobson, 2013). Similarly, determination of apo B levels has been characterized as superior to any other cholesterol index to identify increased risk of CVD and assess the efficacy of lipid-lowering treatment (Barter et al., 2006). Thus, robust reductions of both Lp(a) and apo B, as demonstrated by VK2809 in this study, may add to the benefits of LDL-lowering therapy by further improving a patient’s cardiovascular risk profile.

Lastly, the table below gives a comparison of the Phase 1b efficacy results of VK2809 and data from existing hyperlipidemia treatments, clearly showing that treatment with VK2809 leads to changes in lipid profiles that are as good as, if not better, than currently available treatments.
VK2809 Phase 2 Clinical Trial

Viking is currently conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial of VK2809 as a treatment for both hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver disease. The company is enrolling patients with elevated cholesterol, fatty liver disease, and at least three risk factors for metabolic syndrome, which is considered a major driver for the onset of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The primary endpoint will assess changes in LDL following 12 weeks of treatment, with exploratory endpoints evaluating changes in liver fat content, inflammatory markers, and histological changes. Upon conclusion, the company hopes to be in a position to move forward in either hypercholesterolemia or NASH. Thus, it could be viewed as a two-in-one study – confirmatory on LDL and exploratory for fatty liver disease. We anticipate topline results later in 2017, as the company has indicated enrollment is taking a bit longer than anticipated due to increased competition for these types of patients as well as relatively stringent enrollment criteria. We don’t believe these circumstances are unique to Viking, as other companies in the NASH space have reported similar delays in patient recruitment.

VK2809 in Glycogen Storage Disease Ia

On February 9, 2017, Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) announced successful interim results from a proof-of-concept study of VK2809 in an in vivo model of glycogen storage disease 1a (GSD 1a). The study is ongoing, and full results will be presented at an upcoming scientific conference later this year, most likely the International Congress of Inborn Errors of Metabolism in September 2017.

Initial results from the study showed that treatment with VK2809 led to statistically significant reductions in key metabolic markers of GSD Ia, including a reduction in mean liver triglyceride content of more than 60%, a reduction in average liver weight of more than 30%, and a reduction in average liver weight as a percentage of total body weight by approximately 20%. The study utilized a glucose-6-phosphatase knockout mouse model that recapitulates a number of the phenotypic outcomes commonly seen in GSD 1a patients (Lei et al., 1996). For a full review of GSD Ia and the rationale for using VK2809 please see our previous report.

Importantly, these data provide the scientific rationale for moving into a proof-of-concept study in humans in the second half of 2017. While final details are yet to be determined, we anticipate the study will likely involve up to 30 patients dosed for four weeks with the primary outcome being the change in plasma triglycerides from the beginning to the end of the study. We would expect the company to assess liver fat as well, potentially as an exploratory endpoint.

On February 14, 2017, Viking announced an agreement with PoC Capital, LLC to fund the initial development of VK2809 in GSD 1a. PoC will be responsible for paying up to $1.8 million in expenses associated with VK2809 clinical studies that includes proof-of-concept studies in patients with GSD 1a. Viking will issue up to $1.8 million in common shares to PoC in exchange for the funding.

VK0214

VK0214 is a thyroid receptor beta (TRβ) agonist being developed for the treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), an orphan neurodegenerative disease that affects approximately 8,000 individuals in the U.S. and 12,000 in Europe. In contrast to VK2809, which is activated by the liver specific cytochrome P450 isoenzyme CYP3A4, VK0214 is a TRβ agonist that is activated by carboxyesterases that are ubiquitously expressed in the body. The drug also has a different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile, thus potentially making the drug more suitable for a disease such as X-ALD, which is more diffuse than hypercholesterolemia or fatty liver disease.

For a detailed review of the scientific rationale for using VK0214 in X-ALD, please see our previous report.

VK0214 Preclinical Data

To study the potential use of VK0214 in X-ALD, Viking tested VK0214 in the ABCD1 knockout (KO) mouse model, and while this model does not recapitulate the inflammation seen with severe forms of X-ALD, these mice do develop a phenotype similar to adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) with advanced age along with an accumulation of certain very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in tissues and plasma (Lu et al., 1997). The following graph shows an accumulation of different VLCFAs in the blood of ABCD1 KO mice used in this experiment compared to wild-type controls. VLCFAs are denoted as “CX:Y” with “X” corresponding to the number of carbons in the fatty acid chain and “Y” corresponding to the number of double bonds in the chain.
A pilot experiment was performed in 16 ABCD1 KO mice randomized 3:1 to receive VK0214 or placebo once daily for six weeks. Mice receiving VK0214 demonstrated rapid reductions in the mean level of C26:0, while control animals saw no reduction. After six weeks of treatment, mice receiving VK0214 had a 40% reduction in whole blood C26:0 levels relative to controls (PP Plasma taken from Cohort 2 mice was analyzed for the presence of different VLCFAs at two, four, and six weeks. The results show mean reductions of approximately 20-60% in the levels of C26:0, C24:0, C22:0, and C20:0 in mice treated with VK0214 compared to placebo at week six, as shown in the following figure. The importance of reducing shorter chain VLCFAs is unclear, however it may suggest a potential reduction in available substrates for elongation to the more problematic C24:0 and C26:0 VLCFAs, leading to even greater long term reductions in these longer chain VLCFAs.
Overall, we believe the positive preclinical data reported here provide strong support for the development of VK0214 for X-ALD. The data presented by Viking are in alignment with the hypothesis that induction of ABCD2 expression leads to increased metabolism and clearance of VLCFAs and treatment with VK0214 could represent a novel treatment options for X-ALD patients.

The company is continuing work on characterizing the long-term impact of VK0214 treatment on VLCFA accumulation in tissues in the same model, and we anticipate results from this longer term study to be reported in the second quarter of 2017.

Financial Update

On March 21, 2016, Viking announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2016. For the fourth quarter of 2016, the company had a net loss of $3.6 million, or $0.18 per share. The loss included $2.6 million in R&D expenses, compared to $3.2 million in R&D expenses for the fourth quarter of 2015. The decrease was primarily due to decreased activities related to third party manufacturing of clinical-stage drug candidates. G&A expenses totaled $1.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to $1.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, with the decrease due to decreases in stock-based compensation.

For the full year, the company reported a net loss of $14.7 million, or $0.90 per share. R&D expenses were $9.0, compared to $7.0 million in 2015, with the increase due to increased expenses associated with the clinical programs for VK5211 and VK2809 and preclinical efforts for VK0214. G&A expenses totaled $4.8 million, compared to $5.0 million in 2015 with the decrease mostly due to a decrease in stock-based compensation.

Viking exited 2016 with approximately $13.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, with an additional $14 million available through a credit equity line and ATM program. As of Feb. 28, 2017, Viking had 23.8 million shares outstanding (of which Ligand owns approximately 35%) and when factoring in the outstanding shares of restricted stock, stock options, and warrants the company has a fully diluted share count of approximately 37.7 million shares.

Valuation and Conclusion

For valuation purposes, we have constructed a probability adjusted discounted cash flow model that takes into account potential revenues from VK5211 in hip fracture, VK2809 in NASH, and VK0214 in ALD.

We model for peak revenues for VK5211 of approximately $600 million in the U.S. and $1 billion in the E.U. based on compelling preclinical and early clinical data. We look forward to analyzing the data from the ongoing Phase 2 study of VK5211 for the treatment of hip fracture in mid-2017.

We estimate potential peak worldwide revenues for VK2809 of $2.5 billion based upon the low level of adverse events seen with the drug in early clinical testing along with data that is just as good if not better than current treatment options for dyslipidemia. We anticipate topline results from the recently initiated Phase 2 study of VK2809 in hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver disease later in 2017.

For ALD, since it is an orphan indication we believe the drug would likely command premium pricing, thus we model for a yearly cost of $150,000 in the U.S. and $120,000 in Europe, leading to estimated peak worldwide sales of approximately $450 million.

Based on these numbers, and using an 18% discount rate, we arrive at a valuation of $8/share. We continue to believe that Viking’s shares are significantly undervalued. This is particularly evident on a comparative basis with Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MDGL), which is developing a TRβ agonist that is also in Phase 2 testing for the treatment of fatty liver disease. We believe Viking’s TRβ agonists have potentially superior efficacy and fail to see why Viking is trading at approximately 1/7^th the valuation of Madrigal. Small-cap biotech investors should take a serious look at Viking ahead of data readouts later in 2017.

READ THE FULL RESEARCH REPORT HERE

SUBSCRIBE TO ZACKS SMALL CAP RESEARCH to receive our articles and reports emailed directly to you each morning. Please visit our website for additional information on Zacks SCR and to view our disclaimer.