** Shares of drug developer Viking Therapeutics VKTX rose 19.32% to $72.06
** The company will present data from 60/80/100mg doses of its oral obesity drug VK2735 at an upcoming conference
** Stifel analyst Annabel Samimy says that given the good responses seen with previous doses, the brokerage firm is optimistic about seeing weight loss that is competitive with other treatments on the market
** Samimy adds that the drug is one of the best tolerated, which, combined with good efficacy, represents “best-in-class” potential
** VKTX said late Wednesday (link) that further benefits of oral administration of VK2735 could be expected from longer periods of administration
**Dose escalation has been studied at daily doses up to 100 mg
** The company will present data at ObesityWeek next month and plans to launch a mid-stage trial later this year
** VKTX could dose beyond 100 mg in mid-stage trial, brokerage Oppenheimer said
** The stock has almost tripled since the beginning of the year
