Viking Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders, has entered a broad, multi-year manufacturing agreement with CordenPharma, a CDMO covering the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and final finished product supply for its VK2735 program for obesity. 

The agreement provides Viking with a sufficient long-term supply of both subcutaneous and oral VK2735 product forms to support a potential multi-billion-dollar annual product opportunity.

Under the terms of the agreement, Viking has secured dedicated capacity for the manufacture of, and a commitment to supply annually, multiple metric tons of VK2735 API. Additionally, CordenPharma will provide fill/finish capacity for the injectable and oral formulations of VK2735. This includes dedicated manufacturing lines and an annual commitment to supply 100 million autoinjectors and an additional 100 million vial and syringe products for the subcutaneous formulation, as well as an annual capacity of over one billion oral VK2735 tablets. 

VK2735, the company’s dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors is being developed in oral and subcutaneous formulations for the potential treatment of various metabolic disorders such as obesity. 

Viking is currently conducting the Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral Dosing Trial of VK2735 dosed as an oral tablet once daily for 13 weeks. Additionally, the company plans to initiate Phase 3 development with the subcutaneous formulation of VK2735 in the second quarter of 2025.

In exchange for dedicated API and fill/finish capacity, Viking will make prepayments totaling $150 million, to be paid over the period from 2025 to 2028. Viking retains ownership of all global rights to VK2735 under the agreement and expects to maintain standard pharmaceutical product margins.