San Diego, California, U.S., September 22, 2026
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. has announced positive topline results from a maintenance study evaluating VK2735, an investigational dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist being developed for obesity and other metabolic disorders. The Phase 1 maintenance study evaluated whether participants who had achieved weight loss with once-weekly VK2735 could maintain those reductions after transitioning to less frequent dosing regimens, including once every two weeks and once monthly. The findings showed that participants receiving VK2735 maintained substantially more of their previous weight loss than those switched to placebo, supporting further investigation of flexible dosing strategies for long-term weight management.
VK2735 Demonstrates Sustained Weight Loss
Participants initially received once-weekly VK2735 for 21 weeks, with doses progressively escalated to final doses ranging from 15 mg to 22.5 mg. At Week 21, mean weight loss across the VK2735 treatment groups ranged from approximately 16% to 19%, compared with approximately 0% for placebo. The study also found that weight reduction remained progressive during the induction period, with no evidence of a plateau through 21 weeks. Among participants receiving VK2735, 98% achieved at least 5% weight loss, 90% achieved at least 10%, 65% achieved at least 15%, and 32% achieved at least 20% weight loss. These findings provide the foundation for evaluating whether less frequent maintenance dosing can preserve weight reduction after the initial treatment period.
Following the 21-week induction phase, participants transitioned to 12 weeks of maintenance treatment. Those assigned to every-other-week VK2735 dosing maintained up to 97% of the weight loss achieved during weekly treatment, compared with 61% among participants switched to placebo. Participants receiving monthly VK2735 maintained up to 90% of their previous weight loss, also exceeding the placebo group. According to Viking, separation between active treatment and placebo was observed as early as four weeks after the transition to less frequent dosing. These results suggest that VK2735 may support different maintenance schedules, although additional studies will be needed to determine the most appropriate long-term dosing strategies.
Safety Profile Supports Continued Development
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Viking also reported an encouraging safety and tolerability profile during the 12-week maintenance period. Rates of gastrointestinal adverse events, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, were reported to be comparable to placebo during the maintenance phase. Treatment discontinuations were low across the maintenance groups, although individual adverse events and discontinuations occurred. The company said the findings support continued evaluation of VK2735 as a potential treatment for obesity and metabolic disease, including strategies designed to improve treatment flexibility and long-term adherence. An exploratory cohort that continued receiving 17.5 mg of VK2735 once weekly showed mean weight loss of 21.7% from baseline at Week 33, compared with a 0.3% weight gain in the placebo group. Weight loss continued progressively through the 33-week observation period without an observed plateau.
Viking is also developing VK2735 in both subcutaneous and oral formulations, with the broader program focused on potential treatments for obesity and other metabolic disorders. The company plans to evaluate oral maintenance dosing strategies in a subsequent portion of the current study. The maintenance findings add to the clinical development program for VK2735 as Viking evaluates how dual GLP-1/GIP receptor activation can be incorporated into longer-term obesity treatment. While the topline findings are encouraging, the study remains part of the investigational development process, and further clinical research will be required to establish the efficacy, safety, durability, and optimal dosing of VK2735 for potential future use.
Source: Viking Therapeutics press release
