CordenPharma and Viking Therapeutics Sign Long-Term Strategic Partnership for Integrated Supply of GLP-1 Peptides, Injectables and Oral Formulations

Rhea-AI Summary

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) has entered a multi-year strategic partnership with CordenPharma for the development and manufacturing of its GLP-1 drug candidate VK2735. The partnership encompasses the full supply chain from drug substance to drug product for both subcutaneous and oral peptide formulations.

CordenPharma will provide large-scale peptide manufacturing for the Dual GLP-1/GIP Receptor Agonist drug substance, along with fill-finish services for the subcutaneous formulation and oral solid dosage manufacturing. The agreement leverages CordenPharma's global network of manufacturing facilities, featuring built-in redundancy through multiple drug substance sites to ensure uninterrupted supply throughout the product lifecycle.

Positive

• Secured long-term manufacturing partnership for commercial supply of VK2735
• Multiple formulation options (both injectable and oral) increase market potential
• Manufacturing redundancy through multiple sites reduces supply chain risks

Negative

• Dependency on single manufacturing partner for entire supply chain

Insights

Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Expert

Viking Therapeutics' partnership with CordenPharma represents a significant supply chain advancement for their GLP-1 drug candidate VK2735. This multi-year agreement provides Viking with end-to-end manufacturing capabilities spanning from peptide API production to finished dosage forms in both injectable and oral formulations.

The strategic value lies in CordenPharma's integrated network of 11 facilities across Europe and North America with built-in redundancy across multiple drug substance sites. This redundancy is particularly important for peptide therapeutics, which require specialized manufacturing expertise and face complex production challenges.

Notably, this partnership addresses both clinical and commercial manufacturing needs, indicating preparation for potential scale-up. The dual-formulation strategy (injectable and oral) could provide flexibility in administration routes - a potential differentiator in the GLP-1 space where patient convenience impacts adoption.

CordenPharma's specialized capabilities in peptide manufacturing, sterile injectables, and oral solid dosage forms align precisely with Viking's requirements for VK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist. Their 2024 financial year sales of €854 million and 3,000+ employee base suggest substantial manufacturing capacity.

The timing of this partnership suggests Viking is positioning itself to ensure manufacturing readiness as VK2735 progresses through clinical development. Securing manufacturing capacity early removes a critical development hurdle that often challenges biotech companies transitioning from clinical to commercial stages.

Biotech Investment Analyst

This manufacturing partnership strengthens Viking's position in the valuable GLP-1 therapeutic space. By securing an integrated supply chain solution from CordenPharma, Viking addresses a critical commercial readiness component for VK2735, their dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist.

The agreement covers both subcutaneous and oral peptide formulations of VK2735, reflecting Viking's dual-format strategy. The oral formulation pathway is particularly noteworthy as oral administration could potentially offer competitive advantages in certain segments of the metabolic disease market.

From an execution standpoint, this partnership reduces several risks:

• Manufacturing scale-up risk - leveraging CordenPharma's established infrastructure
• Supply chain complexity - single partner handling API through finished dosage
• Production continuity - multiple manufacturing sites providing redundancy

While financial terms aren't disclosed, the multi-year nature suggests meaningful resource commitment from both companies. For Viking, this arrangement likely provides manufacturing certainty without the capital expenditure of building internal capacity.

This partnership follows the industry trend of dedicated capacity arrangements in the GLP-1 space, where manufacturing capability has strategic importance. Establishing this relationship signals Viking's preparation for potential commercial-stage operations, though regulatory approval and successful clinical outcomes remain prerequisite milestones.

The partnership with CordenPharma, which generated €854 million in 2024 sales and has peptide manufacturing expertise, provides Viking with a credible manufacturing solution as they advance VK2735 through development.

• CordenPharma and Viking Therapeutics sign multi-year strategic partnership to support the commercial demand of Viking Therapeutics' GLP-1 drug candidate VK2735.
  
  
• CordenPharma provides large-scale peptide manufacturing for the Dual GLP-1/GIP Receptor Agonist drug substance of VK2735.
  
  
• CordenPharma provides fill-finish for the drug candidate's subcutaneous formulation and oral solid dosage manufacturing for its oral peptide formulation.

BASEL, Switzerland, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CordenPharma, a leading Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in the supply of peptide APIs and peptide-based therapeutic finished dosage drug products, is pleased to announce the signing of a strategic partnership with Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VKTX), a clinical-stage company focused on developing novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Under this multi-year supply contract, CordenPharma provides development and manufacturing services for clinical and commercial demand of Viking Therapeutics' GLP-1 drug candidate VK2735, a Dual GLP-1/GIP Receptor Agonist, across the full supply chain from drug substance to drug product for both its subcutaneous and oral peptide formulations.

CordenPharma & Viking Therapeutics sign long-term integrated supply partnership to support GLP-1 drug candidate VK2735.

CordenPharma is committed to ensuring seamless development and commercialization of Viking Therapeutics' VK2735 drug candidate by leveraging its global network of advanced manufacturing facilities for drug substance, fill-finish and oral solid dosage finished product.

This uniquely integrated capability incorporates CordenPharma's extensive experience in large-scale peptide drug substance, sterile injectable fill-finish, and oral solid dosage manufacturing. With built-in redundancy through multiple drug substance sites across its global facility network, CordenPharma is well-positioned to ensure a secure and uninterrupted supply chain throughout the lifecycle of Viking Therapeutics' VK2735 drug candidate.

Dr. Michael Quirmbach, President & CEO of the CordenPharma Group, comments: "We are proud to support Viking Therapeutics with a strong end-to-end offering for their complex modalities, from peptide drug substance to drug product, for this innovative VK2735 drug candidate. Our global teams are excited to provide true integration of our expertise across the pharma supply chain to meet the increasing demand for GLP-1 peptide therapeutics and ultimately, improve patient outcomes."

About CordenPharma

CordenPharma is a CDMO partner supporting biotech and pharma innovators of complex modalities in the advancement of their drug development lifecycle. Harnessing the collective expertise of the teams across its globally integrated facility network, CordenPharma provides bespoke outsourcing services spanning the complete supply chain, from early clinical-phase development to commercialization.

With scientific expertise and partnership at its core, CordenPharma provides customers high-value, end-to-end services with a strategic focus on Peptides, Oligonucleotides, customized Lipid Excipients, Lipid NanoParticles (LNPs), sterile Injectables, and the extensive supply of Small Molecules (both Highly Potent and Regular Potency).

The CordenPharma Group is comprised of 11 facilities across Europe and North America. In the 2024 financial year, the organization generated sales of €854 million and had over 3,000 employees. In 2022, CordenPharma was acquired by Astorg - a leading Pan-European private equity firm with deep expertise in the healthcare sector - to accelerate its development and further strengthen its leadership in the CDMO peptide space.

Please visit cordenpharma.com for more information I Follow CordenPharma on LinkedIn.

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SOURCE CordenPharma

FAQ

What is the scope of Viking Therapeutics' (VKTX) partnership with CordenPharma for VK2735?

The partnership covers end-to-end manufacturing services for VK2735, including drug substance production, fill-finish for subcutaneous formulation, and oral solid dosage manufacturing.

How will CordenPharma ensure reliable supply of Viking's (VKTX) VK2735 drug candidate?

CordenPharma has built-in redundancy through multiple drug substance sites across its global facility network to ensure uninterrupted supply.

What formulations of VK2735 will CordenPharma manufacture for Viking Therapeutics (VKTX)?

CordenPharma will manufacture both subcutaneous injectable and oral peptide formulations of VK2735.

What type of drug is Viking Therapeutics' (VKTX) VK2735?

VK2735 is a Dual GLP-1/GIP Receptor Agonist drug candidate for metabolic and endocrine disorders.