1 Bold Prediction for Viking Therapeutics in 2026
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By Lee Samaha – Dec 16, 2025 at 1:15PM ESTKey PointsTakeover activity has been high lately in the intensely competitive anti-obesity drug space. Viking's pipeline may contain plenty of hidden value that a larger company might release. These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›NASDAQ: VKTXViking TherapeuticsMarket Cap$4.1BToday's Changeangle-down(-1.27%) $0.46Current Price$35.69Price as of December 16, 2025 at 1:46 PM ETViking's pipeline may release its value next year, and larger companies are likely to consider acquiring it.Upstart biotech company Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 1.27%) is a potential takeover candidate in 2026. That's not a reason to buy the stock in itself, but does highlight the potential value in its product pipeline. Here's why major drugmakers might now be drawn to buying this relatively small player in the pharmaceutical industry. Takeover activity is high in the industry The recent bidding war between Pfizer and Novo Nordisk over Metsera (won by Pfizer) highlights the attraction of buying smaller companies with pipelines that have obesity treatments. Given that Viking has a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist, VK2735, in late-stage trials in both oral and subcutaneous (under-the-skin) forms, it's potentially a prime target. ExpandNASDAQ: VKTXViking TherapeuticsToday's Change(-1.27%) $-0.46Current Price$35.69Key Data PointsMarket Cap$4.1BDay's Range$35.05 - $36.1552wk Range$18.92 - $47.87Volume39KAvg Vol4.3M Viking's pipeline might be more attractive than the market thinks Investors were shocked in August when Viking's Venture phase 2 results for VK2735, an oral anti-obesity candidate, revealed a relatively high discontinuation rate of 20% due to adverse events (usually gastrointestinal) in the treatment group. It was disappointing, but there was no issue with efficacy, as evidenced by a 12.2% weight loss after just 13 weeks in the treatment group. Additionally, the cohort may have had some relatively unfavorable characteristics, as 13% of the placebo group also dropped out due to an adverse event. That's a higher rate than the discontinuation rate due to adverse events of 10.3% for Eli Lilly's (LLY 1.53%) oral GLP-1 drug, orforglipron, in its phase 3 Attain-1 trial in treating obesity. Furthermore, Lilly's phase 3 Attain-1 trial lasted 72 weeks, whereas Viking's phase 2 Venture trial lasted 13 weeks. Image source: Getty Images. It's easy to conclude that oral VK2735 has safety issues, but a larger company might not share the same view. The Venture trial was relatively short, and the titration rate may have been too aggressive for patients to adjust. Furthermore, the phase 1 safety data for oral VK2735 in treating obesity were exemplary.Advertisement Finally, Viking has already initiated a trial using oral VK2735 as a maintenance dose in combination with subcutaneous VK2735. Clinical trials are complex, generating vast amounts of data, and larger companies are often better equipped to manage them. Don't be surprised if a larger rival takes a look at acquiring Viking Therapeutics in 2026.About the AuthorLee Samaha is a contributing Stock Market Analyst at The Motley Fool covering industrials, electricals, energy, materials, transportation, and infrastructure stocks. Prior to The Motley Fool, Lee was a Civil Engineer and Investment Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Civil and Structural Engineering from Southampton University and a Certificate in Investment Management from Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. Lee first cut his investing teeth on The Motley Fool bulletin boards (commonly referred to as the “Fool Boards,”) and he’s infinitely grateful to all of the investors he learned from in this powerful investing community.TMFSaintGermainX@LeeSamahaRead NextNov 27, 2025 •By Prosper Junior BakinyPrediction: This Undervalued Stock Could Compete With Novo Nordisk by 2029Nov 19, 2025 •By Adria CiminoMissed Out on Eli Lilly? 2 Healthcare Stocks With Big Catalysts on the Horizon.Nov 10, 2025 •By Prosper Junior Bakiny2 Monster Stocks in the MakingNov 9, 2025 •By Lee SamahaIs There a Future for Viking Therapeutics?Nov 5, 2025 •By Lee SamahaHere's Why Shares in Viking Therapeutics Shot Higher in OctoberNov 3, 2025 •By Prosper Junior BakinyPrediction: The Next Eli Lilly Might Already Be Trading Under $50