VIKING THERAPEUT.DL -,005 WKN: A12GD6 ISIN: US92686J1060 Kürzel: VKTX Forum: Aktien Thema: Hauptdiskussion

AbbVie (ABBV) + Viking Therapeutics (VKTX): Why This Is a Credible Strategic Fit A Full Executive Summary This is not a hype post. This is a structured breakdown of why an AbbVie + Viking partnership or acquisition is strategically credible based on facts, competitive positioning, and platform logic. The obesity market is no longer a single-drug race. It is becoming a long-duration, combo-based, chronic treatment ecosystem. The companies that win long-term will not just sell a GLP-1. They will build a metabolic platform. AbbVie has already signaled that it intends to build one. Viking may be one of the last clean backbone assets available. Let’s break this down properly. 1. AbbVie’s Motive Is Real AbbVie is not randomly sniffing around obesity. They have already entered the space via a licensing deal for a long-acting amylin analog (Gubra deal). That was not small. It came with a significant upfront payment and milestone structure. That move matters because amylin is widely viewed as a combo component in next-generation obesity regimens. Companies do not license amylin programs unless they intend to build something broader. AbbVie also faces long-term growth pressure. Humira’s loss of exclusivity has already happened. Skyrizi and Rinvoq are strong, but diversification into another mega-TAM is strategically logical. Obesity is one of the only categories capable of replacing biologic-scale revenue. This is motive. 2. Viking’s Strategic Value VK2735 is a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist. SubQ Phase 2 data showed up to ~14.7% mean weight loss at 13 weeks, placebo-adjusted up to ~13%. Importantly, there was no plateau observed at 13 weeks in top-line results. That suggests durability potential as dosing continues. The oral program has shown meaningful weight loss as well, though tolerability narratives have created debate. That debate is part of the valuation disconnect. Viking has: • A dual incretin backbone • SubQ and oral optionality • Ongoing maintenance study • Clean capital structure • Strategic flexibility Scarcity is critical here. There are not many independent, credible dual incretin programs left that are advanced enough to matter but not already owned by Lilly or Novo. 3. Platform Logic: Why ABBV + VKTX Makes Sense AbbVie: Amylin component. Viking: GLP-1/GIP backbone. Long-term obesity treatment likely evolves toward combination therapy to improve durability, tolerability, muscle preservation, and metabolic flexibility. An amylin + incretin combination platform is structurally coherent. AbbVie brings: • Global commercial infrastructure • Balance sheet capacity • Combination trial funding • Manufacturing scale • Potential aesthetics-adjacent channel overlap Viking brings: • The metabolic engine • Flexibility • Unencumbered strategic optionality This is not “big buys small.” This is platform assembly.