Earnings Call Insights: Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) Q1 2026 Management View Brian Lian said the quarter’s operational focus was advancing VK2735 across multiple Phase III-enabling paths, stating, "we made significant progress with our obesity franchise, highlighted by our lead compound, VK2735" and adding that "we were pleased to announce the completion of enrollment in the VANQUISH-2 trial. Both s...
Earnings Call Insights: Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) Q1 2026 Management View Brian Lian said the quarter’s operational focus was advancing VK2735 across multiple Phase III-enabling paths, stating, "we made significant progress with our obesity franchise, highlighted by our lead compound, VK2735" and adding that "we were pleased to announce the completion of enrollment in the VANQUISH-2 trial. Both studies continue to proceed on track." Lian highlighted a key development change for the oral program, saying, "based on the positive top line results reported in our Phase II VENTURE-Oral dosing study, the company elected to advance oral VK2735 into Phase III clinical development" and specifying, "We currently expect to initiate this program in the fourth quarter of this year." Lian emphasized optionality and administration upgrades inside Phase III, stating, "participants in both VANQUISH studies began transitioning to the auto-injector device" and adding, "This transition has been proceeding smoothly." Gregory Zante quantified the step-up in investment, saying, "Research and development expenses were $150.2 million for the 3 months ended March 31, 2026" and "General and administrative expenses were $14 million." Zante summarized profitability and liquidity, stating, "For the 3 months ended March 31, 2026, Viking recorded a net loss of $158.3 million or $1.37 per share" and "At March 31, 2026, Viking held cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $603 million." Lian framed the commercialization build-out around a new executive hire, stating, "the company announced in the first quarter the appointment of Neil Aubuchon as its first Chief Commercial Officer" and adding, "We are excited to have him on board to lead this critical operation." Outlook Lian guided to multiple clinical catalysts, saying, "We expect to report the results of this study in the third quarter" (maintenance dosing study) and "Pending clearance, we expect to initiate a Phase I clinical trial fo...
BASF SE press release ( BASFY ): Q1 Non-GAAP EPS of Є1.32 beats by Є0.47. Revenue of Є16.02B (-3.0% Y/Y) beats by Є120M. The EBITDA margin before special items decreased to 14.7% versus 15.1% in the prior-year quarter. EBITDA2 amounted to €2,186 million, following €2,070 million in the prior-year period. In the first quarter of 2026, cash flows from operating activities improved by €185 million co...
BASF SE press release ( BASFY ): Q1 Non-GAAP EPS of Є1.32 beats by Є0.47. Revenue of Є16.02B (-3.0% Y/Y) beats by Є120M. The EBITDA margin before special items decreased to 14.7% versus 15.1% in the prior-year quarter. EBITDA2 amounted to €2,186 million, following €2,070 million in the prior-year period. In the first quarter of 2026, cash flows from operating activities improved by €185 million compared with the prior-year quarter to -€797 million. More on BASF SE BASF: Trading Below Intrinsic Value, But Facing Risks BASF SE (BASFY) Presents at J.P. Morgan European Chemicals Forum - Slideshow BASF SE (BASFY) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript BASF hikes prices again for additives in plastic applications on Middle East war disruption BASF boosts prices again as Middle East war lifts costs
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is formidable in Netflix’s take on the thriller novel Denzel Washington turned into a noughties action movie. But it’s a great lesson in why shows don’t normally have a glum high-octane hero Who doesn’t love a thriller in which a lone wolf takes down an all-powerful criminal network? Jack Reacher, Ethan Hunt, whatsisname from The Night Agent – however adverse the circumstance...
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is formidable in Netflix’s take on the thriller novel Denzel Washington turned into a noughties action movie. But it’s a great lesson in why shows don’t normally have a glum high-octane hero Who doesn’t love a thriller in which a lone wolf takes down an all-powerful criminal network? Jack Reacher, Ethan Hunt, whatsisname from The Night Agent – however adverse the circumstances, these capable chaps will prevail. Hand-to-hand combat against a highly trained ninja henchman? No problem. Breaking into a phenomenally secure facility, stealing the valuable thing, then striding out again? Easy. Defeating a warehouse full of men with Kalashnikovs, armed only with sunglasses and string, all while rescuing a screaming female civilian? All in a day’s work. These yarns are healthy, silly fun and we enjoy them. But, Netflix’s new six-parter Man on Fire asks, what if we kept the core idea but made it less silly and fun, more sad and serious? Wouldn’t that be even better? Well, it seems it wouldn’t be a complete disaster, but in this case it makes life more difficult for everyone, the viewer included. Continue reading...
The earnings from the tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada will make it the most lucrative competition in the history of sport, even if some of the 48 competing countries say they are struggling to make ends meet A World Cup that Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, billed at the draw last December as “the greatest event that humanity has ever seen” will certainly be the most lucrative competiti...
The earnings from the tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada will make it the most lucrative competition in the history of sport, even if some of the 48 competing countries say they are struggling to make ends meet A World Cup that Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, billed at the draw last December as “the greatest event that humanity has ever seen” will certainly be the most lucrative competition in sporting history. Fifa has spent the last few years upgrading its revenue projections, with the most recent financial report stating that the world governing body will make $13bn (£9.6bn) from the four-year cycle culminating in this summer’s tournament, almost $9bn of which will be brought in this year. Continue reading...
John Terry’s journey into the internet pipeline is by no means an isolated case – what makes footballers so susceptible? And so we ask ourselves: how did it come to this? Did we miss the signs? Were there red flags that went unheeded, cries for help that fell on closed ears, forks in the road not taken? Or ultimately, for all our best efforts, was it always going to end like this? Is it, in fact, ...
John Terry’s journey into the internet pipeline is by no means an isolated case – what makes footballers so susceptible? And so we ask ourselves: how did it come to this? Did we miss the signs? Were there red flags that went unheeded, cries for help that fell on closed ears, forks in the road not taken? Or ultimately, for all our best efforts, was it always going to end like this? Is it, in fact, possible that John Terry was a far-right sympathiser all along? Yes, it’s been a chastening week for those who have been fighting Terry’s corner for more than a decade. Who steadfastly defended him against the racism charges, who accepted his explanation that he was simply repeating what Anton Ferdinand had been saying to him , who turned up at his trial in full kit, who lamented his failure to land the coaching jobs he so coveted, who right to the end just wanted to believe. Continue reading...
There is no such thing as the Bond Dealers party, but there might as well be – the people who trade in UK debt exert a stranglehold over our politics The days of two-party politics are over. When voters go to the polls in England next week, they will have five main contenders to choose from. In Scotland and Wales, the nationalists make it a six-strong race. This fragmentation reflects the deep dis...
There is no such thing as the Bond Dealers party, but there might as well be – the people who trade in UK debt exert a stranglehold over our politics The days of two-party politics are over. When voters go to the polls in England next week, they will have five main contenders to choose from. In Scotland and Wales, the nationalists make it a six-strong race. This fragmentation reflects the deep discontent with Labour and the Conservatives. One thing in common between the Greens and Reform UK is that they are each benefiting from a sense that radical parties are worth a punt because nothing could be worse than it is now. Larry Elliott is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
Before Nottingham Forest face Aston Villa in the Europa League, we look at seven other all-English semi-final clashes in Europe There can be few more enjoyable feelings for an away player than to silence Anfield. Billy Bremner did so in the first leg of this tie when he headed home unmarked to score what turned out to be the only goal across 180 minutes of action. John Toshack tried to respond but...
Before Nottingham Forest face Aston Villa in the Europa League, we look at seven other all-English semi-final clashes in Europe There can be few more enjoyable feelings for an away player than to silence Anfield. Billy Bremner did so in the first leg of this tie when he headed home unmarked to score what turned out to be the only goal across 180 minutes of action. John Toshack tried to respond but his shot was blocked on the line as Leeds’ fearsome defence defied Liverpool. “If you miss chances like we did, you do not deserve to win,” Bill Shankly said. The clubs were at the top of their game under Shankly and Don Revie and Liverpool had defeated Leeds in the 1965 FA Cup final after extra time, creating a heated rivalry. Bremner had struggled badly with injury in the 1970-71 season and was made to prove his fitness in a friendly against Bradford the day before the match at Anfield, something modern sports scientists would not suggest but which clearly worked. He was recalled to the lineup and ignited Leeds’ charge to winning the trophy. They beat Juventus on away goals in the final. Continue reading...
Carol thinks Scandinavian-style sandwiches are unwieldy and messy, while Lucas wants to get the most from his fillings. You decide who’s the bread winner • Find out how to get a disagreement settled or become a juror Food should not fall out while you eat a sandwich, and your hands shouldn’t be sticky with sauce Two slices of bread feels a bit excessive. It’s too much bread compared with the filli...
Carol thinks Scandinavian-style sandwiches are unwieldy and messy, while Lucas wants to get the most from his fillings. You decide who’s the bread winner • Find out how to get a disagreement settled or become a juror Food should not fall out while you eat a sandwich, and your hands shouldn’t be sticky with sauce Two slices of bread feels a bit excessive. It’s too much bread compared with the filling Continue reading...
Tender by Dave Harris follows the male strippers at the failing Dancing Bears Club. Its playwright and stars discuss sex, power and their research trip to Magic Mike Live When the LA wildfires burned last year, playwright Dave Harris watched as everyone’s “crisis personalities” emerged. “Mine,” he recalls, “was that I was incredibly horny.” During that period, when the power was out and he could s...
Tender by Dave Harris follows the male strippers at the failing Dancing Bears Club. Its playwright and stars discuss sex, power and their research trip to Magic Mike Live When the LA wildfires burned last year, playwright Dave Harris watched as everyone’s “crisis personalities” emerged. “Mine,” he recalls, “was that I was incredibly horny.” During that period, when the power was out and he could see flames in two directions, he busied himself with three activities: “Having a lot of sex with my girlfriend, cooking all the food in our fridge, and finishing this play.” Set in a failing strip club where nothing is off limits, Tender is as preoccupied with sex as its creator is. “I have always been obsessed with sex,” Harris says, “since before I knew what it was. The four places I feel the most myself are writing, sex, cooking and dancing.” His character descriptions dictate that all four performers for this show need to be astonishingly good looking: young hot, dad hot, arrogant hot, and inaccessibly beautiful. “We’re really just trying to gird everyone’s loins,” Harris laughs. Continue reading...