1) The options market involves speculating on the future value of a stock.
2) When you buy an option, you pay a small fee for the right to buy or sell a stock at a certain price.
3) The major market movers are probably big, institutional investors who have a lot of money to invest.
4) They're probably betting that Viking Therapeutics's stock will go up.
5) If the stock does go up, they'll make a lot of money.
6) If the stock goes down, they'll lose the money they paid for the option.
7) The volume and open interest suggest that a lot of people are trading options on Viking Therapeutics.
8) The professional analysts are also bullish on Viking Therapeutics.
9) So, it looks like there's a lot of optimism about Viking Therapeutics right now.
This is just a summary. The actual options market is much more complex and risky, and I'm not recommending that you start trading options. Read from source...

those points were addressed on another platform where more serious discourse takes place. I posted AI's piece here as it did spark discussion, even if it was somewhat dismissive of rational argument.
The heart of the matter remains the misleading information spread by individuals, likely funded by parties with a vested interest, asserting there is some sort of consensus about lockdowns or climate change, which is simply not the case. That doesn't mean we dismiss all arguments around those topics, but rather we should promote more rigorous discussion and stop shutting down discourse around topics like lockdowns or climate change, which are fraught with controversy and political bias.
The fundamental problem here is the polarization of the discourse around lockdowns and climate change, with both sides relying on emotional tactics to score points rather than evidence-based reasoning. This is a problem across the political spectrum and it has led to a significant decrease in public trust in experts, institutions, and science.
In the end, it is incumbent upon all of us to promote better discourse, to elevate the level of the conversation, and to challenge the narratives that perpetuate these problems.

neutral

### AI Says:
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**Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX)** is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the development of novel therapeutics for patients suffering from metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company's lead product candidate is VK2809, which is being investigated for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). VK2809 is a potent, selective, orally available, liver-directed, small-molecule agonist of the thyroid hormone receptor (THR-β). In addition to VK2809, the company is also developing VK5211, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that is being investigated for the treatment of conditions such as muscle wasting and frailty in patients with chronic diseases.

**Recommendation**: Buy

**Recommendation Level**: Moderate Buy

**Rationale**: Viking Therapeutics has a strong pipeline of drug candidates targeting metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company's lead product candidate, VK2809, is a promising treatment for NASH, which is a significant unmet medical need. The company's SARM candidate, VK5211, also holds potential for the treatment of muscle wasting and frailty in patients with chronic diseases. These product candidates have the potential to generate significant revenue for the company if approved and launched in the market.

**Investment Risks**:

1. Clinical trial risks: The development of new drugs involves significant risks, including the potential for failure in clinical trials. If any of Viking Therapeutics's product candidates fail to demonstrate safety and efficacy in clinical trials, it could significantly impact the company's financial performance and share price.

2. Regulatory risks: The approval of new drugs requires successful interaction with regulatory agencies such as the FDA. If Viking Therapeutics encounters difficulties in obtaining regulatory approvals for its product candidates, it could delay the launch of new drugs and impact the company's financial performance.

3. Competitive risks: The pharmaceutical industry is highly competitive, with many companies developing similar drug candidates for the treatment of metabolic and endocrine disorders. If Viking Therapeutics faces strong competition from other companies, it could impact the market acceptance of its products and the company's financial performance.

4. Financial risks: Viking Therapeutics is a relatively small company, and its financial performance is heavily dependent on the success of its product candidates. If the company encounters financial difficulties, it could impact its ability to continue developing new drugs and negatively impact its share price.

**Recommendation Disclosure**: The information provided