Appetite for weight-loss deals broader than visible, Viking CEO says

By Puyaan Singh

Jan ⁠12 (Reuters) - Weight-loss ⁠drug ‍developer Viking Therapeutics CEO said on Monday that strategic interest in weight-loss drug deals ‍is broader than it appears, as drugmakers ​seek to tap into the potential $150 billion market.

Pharmaceutical companies are ​targeting the booming weight-loss drug market, which analysts estimate could exceed $150 billion annually by the end of the decade.

Key growth ​drivers include expanded clinical applications, wider patient adoption, improved drug manufacturing capacity, and a pipeline of ​next‑generation therapies.

"I think the interest is probably broader than is visible ... ‌more parties sort of circling around the space and very intrigued," Viking CEO Brian ​Lian said at the J.P. ⁠Morgan healthcare conference.

Last November, Pfizer acquired Metsera for $10 billion, gaining a foothold in ‌the fast-growing market following a fierce bidding war with Novo Nordisk.

Lian said pharmaceutical companies are trying to determine ‌how to approach obesity treatments - whether to pursue a new ‌drug compound in early-stage development, which could come at a lower price point, or opt for "something proven", which may be ‍more expensive.

During Viking's third-quarter earnings call in October, Lian said the company is ⁠open to outside interest, which he would prefer, but emphasized that the drug developer is prepared to go alone if necessary.

(Reporting by Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

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