Drug name
Last update: Oct 2026VK2735
Developer(s)
Drug information
Not provided
VK2735; VK-2735
None (investigational)
Biotherapeutic
Synthetic peptide co-agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors; same mechanistic class as tirzepatide.
Active / In Development (Phase 1/2/3) — SC once weekly: Phase 3 (VANQUISH-1 and VANQUISH-2, fully enrolled; primary completion estimated July 2027). Oral once daily: Phase 3 (SUNRISE-1/-2) starting 4Q26 after an end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the US FDA in December 2025. SC every-other-week/monthly and oral maintenance: Phase 1 (VK2735-102), positive topline September 2026.
VK2735 is an investigational synthetic peptide dual agonist of the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, for obesity and other metabolic disorders. The same active ingredient is being developed as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection and a once-daily oral tablet, and the company highlights the potential to switch between the two. Single-dose pharmacokinetics showed a half-life of approximately 170 to 250 hours (about 7 to 10 days) and a Tmax of approximately 75 to 90 hours, supporting weekly and potentially less frequent subcutaneous dosing. Subcutaneous VK2735 produced up to 14.7% mean weight loss after 13 weeks in the Phase 2 VENTURE trial and is in Phase 3 (oct. 2026). In a Phase 1 maintenance study, switching to every-other-week or monthly subcutaneous dosing after 21 weeks of weekly induction preserved 82% to 97% of the weight lost. Information is based on company topline results and only one peer-reviewed publication.
None (investigational)
No marketing application submitted. Viking held an end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the US FDA in December 2025 on oral VK2735, ahead of Phase 3.
Therapeutic area(s)
- Obesity / Weight Management : "Obesity / Weight Management, including in people with T2DM)"
- Treatment
Administration route
Oral, Subcutaneous
Associated long-acting platforms
composition not publicly disclosed, Oral solid form
Use of drug
Not provided
- Daily
- Weekly
- Monthly
- Every 2 weeks
No data published.
Dosage
Investigational. SQ: 7.5, 12.5 and 17.5 mg QW (Phase 3); 2.5 to 15 mg QW (Phase 2); 5 to 10 mg every 2 weeks and 10 to 22.5 mg QM (Phase 1 maintenance). Oral: 27.5, 35 and 55 mg once daily (Phase 3)
Highest SC dose tested: 22.5 mg (weekly and monthly, VK2735-102). Highest oral dose tested: 120 mg once daily (VENTURE-Oral).
Not established. Investigational. Phase 3 SC: once weekly, titrated to 7.5, 12.5 or 17.5 mg (titration schedule not publicly disclosed). VK2735-102 induction: 1.25 mg week 1, 2.5 mg week 2, then increments every two weeks to 15 to 22.5 mg weekly.
Investigated Phase 3 doses for the oral tablet (27.5 to 55 mg daily) are not interchangeable with SC doses.
Not provided
Additional information
Developer(s)
Viking Therapeutics
Drug structure
Scale-up and manufacturing prospects
In March 2025 Viking signed a multi-year manufacturing agreement with CordenPharma covering API (multiple metric tons per year), SC fill-finish (annual commitment of 100 million autoinjectors plus 100 million vial and syringe products on dedicated lines) and oral tablets (over 1 billion per year), with USD 150 million in prepayments over 2025 to 2028; capacities expandable at Viking's option.
Not publicly disclosed.
Not publicly disclosed.
Not publicly disclosed.
Excipients & delivery device(s)
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Commercial SC presentations planned as autoinjector and vial/syringe (CordenPharma supply agreement, March 2025). Device used in clinical trials not disclosed.
Safety, Efficacy and Evidence Summary
Adverse events predominantly gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation), mostly mild to moderate, and decreased in frequency after dose titration.
Phase 3 efficacy data not yet available.
Long-term efficacy and safety will come from the 78-week Phase 3 VANQUISH programme (approx. 5,650 participants), with primary completion estimated July 2027.
Not provided
There are either no relevant patents or these were not yet submitted to LAPaL