Shares of Viking Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) shot up 87.3 percent to $19.46 Tuesday on news that, relative to placebo, its thyroid receptor beta agonist, VK-2809, reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lowered liver fat content in people with elevated LDL-C and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The top-line phase II data suggest the drug may be effective in battling the progressive form of NAFLD, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).