VK2735: Viking's GLP-1/GIP Dual Agonist in Subcutaneous and Oral Development

VK2735 is an investigational drug candidate from Viking Therapeutics, developed as a dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors. Viking is pursuing it in two forms — a weekly subcutaneous injection and a once-daily oral tablet — for the potential treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders. This is a research-log summary of what the public trial record shows as of mid-2026. VK2735 is not approved by any regulatory agency and remains experimental; see our FDA status reference for how we describe regulatory standing.

What "dual GLP-1/GIP agonist" means

GLP-1 and GIP are both incretin hormones — gut-derived signals that influence insulin secretion, appetite, and gastric emptying. A dual agonist is engineered to activate both receptor types with a single molecule. The best-known drug in this mechanistic class is tirzepatide, which is FDA-approved and hits the same two receptors. By contrast, semaglutide is a single-target GLP-1 receptor agonist. VK2735's mechanism places it in the tirzepatide-style dual-agonist category rather than the semaglutide-style single-agonist one, though mechanism alone does not predict clinical outcomes, and head-to-head trials against approved drugs have not been reported.

The subcutaneous VENTURE study

The subcutaneous program's pivotal mid-stage readout came from VENTURE, a Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study of weekly subcutaneous VK2735 in adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity. The trial enrolled 176 adults and ran for 13 weeks.

Across the active-treatment arms, mean weight reduction ranged from about 9.1% (at the 2.5 mg dose) to 14.7% (at the 15 mg dose), compared with roughly 1.7% in the placebo group. In the pooled active groups, 93% of participants (130 of 140) achieved at least a 5% reduction in body weight, versus 12% (4 of 34) on placebo. The weight curve reportedly had not plateaued by week 13. The adverse-event profile was primarily gastrointestinal — nausea and related effects — with reported frequency decreasing over continued use, a pattern commonly seen in this drug class. These results were later published in the peer-reviewed journal Obesity (Bays et al., 2026), which is a stronger form of evidence than a press release alone.

The oral VENTURE-Oral study

Viking is also developing VK2735 as a pill — a notable goal, since most incretin drugs on the market are injectables. The Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral Dosing Trial evaluated a once-daily oral tablet over 13 weeks in 280 adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related comorbidity, randomized across multiple dose arms and placebo.

Viking reported top-line results on August 19, 2025, and presented fuller data at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in May 2026. The highest-dose (120 mg) cohort showed a mean weight reduction of about 12.2% at 13 weeks versus roughly 1.3% for placebo. A dose-response gradient was evident across the lower arms — approximately 7.0% at 30 mg, 8.7% at 60 mg, and 11.1% at 90 mg. In the top cohort, about 80% of subjects reached at least 10% weight loss and up to 97% reached at least 5%. The company reported that 99% of GI-specific treatment-emergent adverse events were mild or moderate, and that the weight curve again showed no plateau by week 13. Viking has stated it plans to begin a Phase 3 program for the oral tablet later in 2026.

How to read this in context

A few points of caution are worth holding. First, all of the above comes from 13-week Phase 2 trials. That is a short window relative to how these drugs are used clinically, and short-term percentage figures are not directly comparable to the longer (68-week and beyond) registration trials that produced the headline numbers for approved drugs like tirzepatide and semaglutide. Cross-trial comparisons — different populations, durations, and endpoints — are inherently unreliable and should not be read as a ranking.

Second, Phase 2 success does not guarantee Phase 3 success or approval. Efficacy can shift, and rarer safety signals sometimes only emerge in larger, longer studies. VK2735 has not completed Phase 3 for either formulation and carries no regulatory approval anywhere.

Third, the tolerability story remains the class-typical one: the dominant adverse events are gastrointestinal. The reported "mild or moderate" framing is encouraging but comes from company disclosures and mid-stage data, not long-term real-world use.

Bottom line

VK2735 is one of the more closely watched emerging metabolic candidates, in part because Viking is advancing both an injectable and an oral version of a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist. The Phase 2 evidence — a peer-reviewed subcutaneous readout and a presented oral readout — is genuinely promising within its limits, but it is early. Anyone tracking this compound should follow the Phase 3 program and primary sources rather than treating current numbers as final.

PepStash is a research log and reference tool. This article is educational and is not medical advice — it does not diagnose, treat, or recommend any protocol. Regulatory status and trial data change; always verify against primary sources and consult a licensed physician before making any decisions about your health.