VK2735 is Viking Therapeutics' investigational GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist. The company is developing a weekly injection and a daily tablet. The injectable program is in phase 3, while Viking expects the oral phase 3 program to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, not the third quarter.
Neither form is FDA-approved. There is no reliable approval year or launch date.
Development status
| Form | Current stage | Main evidence available |
|---|---|---|
| Injectable | Phase 3 | Phase 2 weight-loss data and sponsor-reported maintenance study |
| Oral | Phase 2 complete; phase 3 expected in Q4 2026 | VENTURE-Oral phase 2 data |
VK2735 and tirzepatide both activate GLP-1 and GIP receptors, but they are different molecules. Tirzepatide is FDA-approved as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for chronic weight management. VK2735 remains a research drug.
Injectable VK2735 results
In the peer-reviewed phase 2 VENTURE trial, average weight loss reached about 14.7% over 13 weeks at the highest tested dose. All tested injectable doses produced statistically significant reductions compared with placebo.
Viking moved the injectable formulation into the VANQUISH-1 and VANQUISH-2 phase 3 trials. Enrollment is complete, but phase 3 efficacy and safety results are not yet available.
Oral VK2735 results
Viking presented VENTURE-Oral phase 2 findings in May 2026. The company reported dose-dependent average weight loss up to 12.2% at 13 weeks. Only doses above 15 mg produced statistically significant reductions versus placebo; the 15 mg group did not.
Thirteen-week results cannot establish long-term efficacy, durability, or safety. Comparisons with 68- or 72-week trials of approved medicines are especially limited.
The company's second-quarter update said the oral phase 3 program was expected to begin in Q4 2026. A planned quarter can change, and trial initiation is not FDA approval.
September 2026 maintenance study
On September 22, Viking released topline maintenance-study results. These are sponsor-reported exploratory findings, not a peer-reviewed phase 3 result.
During 21 weeks of weekly induction dosing, average weight loss ranged from about 16% to 19% across VK2735 groups, compared with about 0% for placebo. In a small exploratory control cohort that continued 17.5 mg weekly, average weight loss reached 21.7% at week 33.
Participants assigned to less frequent dosing for the following 12 weeks had these maintenance results:
- Every-other-week regimens maintained up to 97% of the average weight loss achieved during induction.
- Monthly regimens maintained up to 90%.
- Participants switched to placebo maintained 61% on average.
"Maintained" refers to the proportion of prior weight loss retained over 12 weeks. It does not mean participants lost another 97% or 90% of body weight. The groups were small, the analysis was exploratory, and Viking reported the data before peer-reviewed publication.
These regimens are experimental. They are not dosing instructions for VK2735 or any approved GLP-1 medicine.
How VK2735 compares with current oral options
Wegovy tablets are oral semaglutide and are FDA-approved for chronic weight management. Foundayo (orforglipron) is also approved for weight management. Rybelsus is oral semaglutide approved for type 2 diabetes, not obesity.
Foundayo is no longer a phase 3 candidate; it is an approved medicine. VK2735's oral formulation remains investigational, so phase 2 percentages should not be used to claim it works better than an approved tablet.
Side effects and unanswered questions
Across VK2735 studies, Viking has reported gastrointestinal events such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. Larger and longer phase 3 trials are needed to characterize less common harms, discontinuation, and durability.
The maintenance study raises a testable question about less frequent dosing. It does not establish an approved monthly or every-other-week schedule. Regulators would need adequate evidence for any such regimen to appear in a label.
Availability
VK2735 cannot be prescribed or purchased as an approved medicine. Viking has not announced an FDA submission or a confirmed launch date for either formulation. Predictions of approval in 2028 or 2029 go beyond the evidence available now.
People seeking treatment now can discuss FDA-approved options with a licensed prescriber. Products marketed as "research VK2735" are not approved for human use.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results vary.
Frequently asked questions
Is VK2735 FDA-approved?
No. Injectable VK2735 is in phase 3 development, while the oral program is expected to enter phase 3 in the fourth quarter of 2026. Neither form is available by prescription.
What did the oral phase 2 trial show?
Viking reported dose-dependent average weight loss up to 12.2% over 13 weeks in VENTURE-Oral. It was a short phase 2 trial, so longer phase 3 evidence is still needed.
What did the September 2026 maintenance study show?
In sponsor-reported exploratory data, weekly induction produced about 16% to 19% average weight loss at 21 weeks. Selected reduced-frequency regimens maintained up to 97% of prior weight loss with every-other-week dosing and up to 90% with monthly dosing over the next 12 weeks.
