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Viking Therapeutics, Kennedy Krieger Institute sign collaboration agreement

Published: 10:45 23 Nov 2015 EST

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Financial terms of the Viking-Kennedy Krieger agreement have not been disclosed.

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, and Kennedy Krieger Institute, announced a sponsored research collaboration focused on evaluating the company's novel thyroid beta agonists for the treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). 

Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

Kennedy Krieger's X-ALD research scientists will study Viking's proprietary thyroid beta agonists, including VK0214, in vivo models of X-ALD, the two sides said in a statement on Monday.

This research will build on previous cell-based data demonstrating that the company's thyroid beta agonists positively affect the expression of specific genes relevant to X-ALD. 

In the planned work, researchers at the Kennedy Krieger will utilize an in vivo X-ALD model to assess the impact of VK0214 on key biomarkers of the disease.

The successful completion of this work will support Viking's initiation of IND-enabling activities with the goal of advancing VK0214 into clinical studies.

"Collaborating with the Kennedy Krieger Institute is invaluable to the advancement of our thyroid beta agonists as potential treatments for this rare, often fatal, disease," Brian Lian, chief executive officer of Viking, said in the statement.

Shares of Viking rose 2.3% to $4.54 at 9:49 a.m. in New York. The stock has lost half its value this yaer.

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