Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will presumably hold a significant lead on the market for its THRβ agonist resmetirom (MDGL-3196), which it plans to file for US approval in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis this quarter, but Phase IIb data reported on 16 May for Viking Therapeutics, Inc.’s THRβ agonist, VK2809, led to analysts calling the drug a best-in-class candidate for NASH. VK2809 hit its primary endpoint of reduction from baseline in liver fat content (LFC) at 12 weeks compared to placebo in the VOYAGE study.
Viking’s Phase IIb NASH Data Provide Across-The-Board Success
Competing with Madrigal in the THRβ agonist class in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, Viking’s VK2809 reports stronger efficacy and better safety and tolerability than resmetirom at that stage.

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