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

By Puyaan Singh

Jan 12 (Reuters) - Weight-loss drug developer Viking Therapeutics VKTX.O 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 PFE.N acquired Metsera for $10 billion, gaining a foothold in the fast-growing market following a fierce bidding war with Novo Nordisk NOVOb.CO.

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)

((Puyaan.Singh@thomsonreuters.com;))