SAN DIEGO, October 6, 2026

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. has announced the initiation of an exploratory oral maintenance dosing clinical trial of VK2735 in adults with obesity, expanding the clinical development of its investigational dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study is designed to evaluate different VK2735 maintenance regimens following initial weight loss achieved with weekly subcutaneous dosing. The program will assess both oral and additional subcutaneous dosing options, with the goal of understanding how different maintenance schedules may help sustain weight reduction over time. VK2735 is being developed in oral and subcutaneous formulations for potential treatment of obesity and other metabolic disorders, positioning the program among Viking’s key clinical-stage metabolic disease initiatives. The newly initiated trial represents the second part of a two-part maintenance study, following positive top-line results from Part 1 evaluating subcutaneous maintenance regimens.

Oral VK2735 Study to Evaluate Weight Maintenance

The new Part 2 maintenance study is expected to enroll approximately 195 adults with obesity, defined as a body mass index of at least 30 kg/m², who are otherwise healthy. Participants will initially receive weekly subcutaneous VK2735 or placebo for 21 weeks before transitioning to different maintenance treatment groups. The maintenance options include daily oral VK2735, weekly oral VK2735, monthly subcutaneous VK2735, every-other-week subcutaneous VK2735, or placebo. Researchers will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profile of VK2735 across these dosing approaches. Exploratory measures will examine changes in body weight from baseline and from Week 21 through Week 33, providing information on the potential of different dosing schedules to maintain weight loss after an initial treatment period. The study is intended to investigate whether oral dosing could provide additional flexibility for patients who require longer-term weight-management treatment.

VK2735 Advances Through Phase 3 Obesity Program

Viking Therapeutics is also advancing subcutaneous VK2735 through two Phase 3 trials, VANQUISH-1 and VANQUISH-2. Both are randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter studies designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of weekly subcutaneous VK2735 over 78 weeks. VANQUISH-1 is fully enrolled with approximately 4,500 adults without type 2 diabetes who have obesity or are overweight with at least one weight-related comorbid condition. VANQUISH-2 is also fully enrolled and includes approximately 1,000 adults with type 2 diabetes who have obesity or are overweight. Participants in both studies are randomized to weekly VK2735 doses of 7.5 mg, 12.5 mg, 17.5 mg, or placebo. Together, these late-stage studies represent an important component of Viking’s broader clinical development strategy for obesity.

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Flexible Dosing Could Support Long-Term Management

Viking Therapeutics said the maintenance program is designed to explore greater dosing flexibility and optionality for patients following initial weight loss. According to the company, adherence to therapy is important for achieving the long-term benefits associated with weight management, including potential improvements in cardiovascular risk, physical function, and quality of life. The company expects the Part 2 maintenance study to provide results in 2027. VK2735 works through combined activation of the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, a therapeutic approach being investigated for its potential to support weight reduction and metabolic health. Viking’s broader pipeline includes additional programs for obesity and metabolic disease, including VK3019, an amylin receptor agonist, VK2809, an oral thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist for metabolic and liver disease, and VK0214, an investigational therapy for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. The advancement of oral maintenance dosing therefore represents another step in Viking’s effort to develop next-generation therapies for obesity and long-term weight management.

Source: Viking Therapeutics press release