Viking Therapeutics Announces Proposed Offerings of Common Stock and Convertible Senior Notes

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VKTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders, today announced its intention to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $200.0 million of common stock and $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2032 (the "notes") in separate public offerings registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Viking also expects to grant the underwriters of the common stock offering a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $30.0 million of common stock, and expects to grant the underwriters of the note offering a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $30.0 million aggregate principal amount of notes solely to cover over-allotments. The completion of the common stock offering will not be contingent on the completion of the note offering, and the completion of the note offering will not be contingent on the completion of the common stock offering.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for the note offering and the common stock offering.

The notes will be senior, unsecured obligations of Viking, will accrue interest payable semi-annually in arrears and will mature on October 15, 2032, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. Noteholders will have the right to convert their notes in certain circumstances and during specified periods. Viking will settle conversions by paying or delivering, as applicable, cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at Viking's election.

The notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part (subject to certain limitations), for cash at Viking's option at any time, and from time to time, on or after October 22, 2029 and on or before the 25th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, but only if the last reported sale price per share of Viking's common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price for a specified period of time. The notes will also be redeemable, in whole and not in part, for cash at Viking's election at any time if the principal amount of the notes then outstanding is less than 15% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes issued in this offering (including any additional notes issued pursuant to any exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional notes). The redemption price will be equal to the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

If certain corporate events that constitute a "fundamental change" occur, then, subject to a limited exception, noteholders may require Viking to repurchase their notes for cash. The repurchase price will be equal to the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.

The interest rate, initial conversion rate and other terms of the notes will be determined at the pricing of the note offering.

Viking intends to use the net proceeds from the note offering, together with the net proceeds from the common stock offering, for the continued clinical development, advancement and commercialization of its VK2735 program, the continued clinical development and advancement of its VK3019 program and for other general research and development, working capital and general corporate purposes.

The offerings are being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Each offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement relating to that offering and an accompanying prospectus. An electronic copy of the preliminary prospectus supplement for each offering, together with the accompanying prospectus, is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of each preliminary prospectus supplement, together with the accompanying prospectus, can be obtained by contacting: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department; or J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 or by email at [email protected] and [email protected].

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities referred to in this press release, nor will there be any sale of any such securities, in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

About Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing a next-generation portfolio of therapies for obesity and metabolic disease. Guided by deep expertise in metabolic biology and rigorous science, Viking is developing innovative treatments to help people achieve meaningful, lasting health improvements by treating obesity first. The company's lead program, VK2735, is a dual glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist in development in both subcutaneous and oral formulations for obesity. VK2735 is currently being evaluated in Phase 3 clinical studies for obesity, along with maintenance dosing strategies designed to support long-term weight management. Viking is also advancing additional obesity programs, including VK3019, an amylin receptor agonist, VK2809, an orally available thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist for metabolic and liver disease, and VK0214 for the rare genetic disorder X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Viking Therapeutics, Inc., under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about the anticipated terms of the notes being offered, Vikings ability to complete the offerings on the anticipated terms or at all, the timing and size of the proposed offerings and Viking's intended use of the proceeds. Forward-looking statements represent Viking's current expectations regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Among those risks and uncertainties are market conditions, including market interest rates, the trading price and volatility of Viking's common stock, risks described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the preliminary prospectus supplements for the proposed offerings and risks relating to Viking's business, including those described in Viking's most recent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Viking's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including the risk factors set forth in those filings.  Viking may not consummate the proposed offerings described in this press release and, if the proposed offerings are consummated, cannot provide any assurances regarding the final terms of the offerings or the notes or its ability to effectively apply the net proceeds as described above. The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and Viking does not undertake to update the statements included in this press release for subsequent developments, except as may be required by law.

SOURCE Viking Therapeutics, Inc.