The Readout Loud 366: Viking’s obesity flop, ‘pharma to table’ drug sales
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Aug 21, 2025 This week, the podcast dives into the dramatic flop of Viking Therapeutics’ obesity drug trial, raising concerns about its treatment effectiveness and the biotech industry's fierce competition. The discussion shifts to the controversial 'pharma to table' trend, which promises direct sales to consumers but is unlikely to lower drug prices as hoped. Insights into cash pay pricing reveal the challenges faced by uninsured patients, while the impact of shifting to direct sales models on pharmaceutical pricing strategies is explored. Tune in for a fascinating take on these pivotal health industry topics!
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Oral Viking Data Disappointed Expectations
- Viking's oral GLP-1/GIP pill showed 12% weight loss over 13 weeks but high discontinuation rates undermined enthusiasm.
- The market punished mismatch between lofty expectations and tolerability, dropping Viking stock 42% in one day.
Efficacy Vs. Tolerability Tradeoff
- Elaine notes 12% weight loss is promising but tolerability and high dropouts (28% treated vs 18% placebo) are major issues.
- She highlights room to improve titration and that phase two still allows optimization.
Oral Peptides Are Hard To Manufacture
- Oral peptide drugs face manufacturing and API challenges that complicate scaling for startups like Viking.
- Elaine questions why investors remain exuberant given production complexity and costs.