** Shares of drug developer Viking Therapeutics VKTX.O rise 1.1% to $27.25 premarket
** VKTX says it has started a late-stage study of its experimental GLP-1 obesity drug candidate, VK2735, in both oral and injectable formulations
** The late-stage study will test the drug in adults with obesity and in overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes over 78 weeks, company says
** As of last close, VKTX stock down 33% YTD
(Reporting by Padmanabhan Ananthan)
((Padmanabhan.Ananthan@thomsonreuters.com))