VK2735 oral phase 2 results: 12.2% weight loss with no plateau at 13 weeks

TL;DR

Viking Therapeutics' oral VK2735 - a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist in tablet form - produced up to 12.2% average weight loss at 13 weeks with no plateau in sight. Phase 3 oral trials are planned for the second half of 2026, potentially making VK2735 the first oral dual agonist to challenge Foundayo and oral Wegovy on the market.

The oral GLP-1 drug race just acquired a serious new competitor. At the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul in May 2026, Viking Therapeutics presented Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral data that turned heads across the obesity medicine field. Not because 12% weight loss in 13 weeks is unheard of - but because the weight loss curve was still descending when the study ended.

What is VK2735 and how does it work?

VK2735 is a dual receptor agonist that targets both GLP-1 and GIP pathways simultaneously. Those two names should be familiar. Tirzepatide - the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound - works through the same dual mechanism, and it has outperformed semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) in every head-to-head trial to date. The rationale for hitting both receptors is that GLP-1 and GIP act through complementary but distinct pathways: GLP-1 suppresses appetite centrally and slows gastric emptying, while GIP enhances the insulin response and may directly support fat cell breakdown.

Viking already has a subcutaneous (injectable) formulation of VK2735 in Phase 3 under the VANQUISH program. The VENTURE-Oral trial tested an oral tablet version taken once daily with no food or water restrictions required. That distinction matters commercially. Oral Wegovy requires a specific fasting and water protocol before each dose - adding friction for daily use. Foundayo (orforglipron) eliminated that restriction, and VK2735 appears to do the same.

The company CEO Brian Lian put the goal plainly: VK2735 "has the potential to become the first oral dual agonist of the GLP-1 and GIP receptors to reach the market." That would put it in a class of its own among pills - Foundayo and oral Wegovy are both GLP-1 mono-agonists.

Trial design: who was in the study?

The VENTURE-Oral trial enrolled 280 adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity. The study ran for 13 weeks under a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Key baseline characteristics:

• Average BMI: 37 kg/m²
• Average age: 51 years
• 54% had pre-diabetes at baseline
• Gender distribution: roughly 60-85% female across dose arms

Participants were assigned to one of five oral doses (15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg, 90 mg, 120 mg) or placebo. The primary endpoint was mean percentage weight change from baseline at 13 weeks.

What the numbers actually showed

The dose-response relationship was steep and consistent. Here is what each group achieved:

• Placebo: -1.3% weight change
• 15 mg: -2.3% weight change
• 30 mg: -7.0% weight change
• 60 mg: -8.7% weight change
• 90 mg: -11.1% weight change
• 120 mg: -12.2% weight change

Across the pooled higher-dose groups, 97% of participants achieved at least 5% weight loss - compared to 10% in the placebo group. That gap is enormous. At the 120 mg dose specifically, 80% of participants lost 10% or more of their body weight in just 13 weeks. Weight loss began appearing as early as Week 1 at the higher doses, and critically - no plateau was observed through the end of the trial.

How does this compare to other oral GLP-1 medications?

Foundayo (orforglipron), FDA-approved in April 2026, achieves around 7-9% weight loss across its Phase 3 programs. Oral Wegovy (semaglutide 25 mg tablet) achieved approximately 15% in the OASIS 4 trial over 64 weeks, but requires specific fasting conditions. At 13 weeks, VK2735 at 120 mg sits at 12.2% - though comparing across different trial lengths and designs is methodologically problematic. What matters more is trajectory: VK2735 shows no sign of plateauing at 13 weeks, while semaglutide-based therapies typically begin levelling off between weeks 36 and 68.

The more meaningful comparison point will come in Phase 3, where VK2735's dual agonism may produce efficacy closer to injectable tirzepatide - which delivered over 20% weight loss in SURMOUNT-5 over 72 weeks - than to mono-agonist oral pills.

Side effects and tolerability

The safety profile matched what you would expect from a GLP-1 and GIP dual agonist. Gastrointestinal effects - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea - were the most common adverse events across all dose arms. Importantly, 98% of all adverse events were classified as mild-to-moderate in severity. Events typically resolved with continued treatment rather than requiring dose reduction or stopping the drug entirely.

The slow titration protocol used in VENTURE-Oral - starting at lower doses and increasing gradually - is standard practice for GLP-1 therapies and helps reduce early GI burden. If Phase 3 uses a similar approach, the tolerability profile should remain competitive with existing oral options.

What this means for GLP-1 users right now

If you are currently taking Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, or Foundayo, VK2735 is not a reason to change anything. Phase 2 results, however promising, do not guarantee Phase 3 success - GLP-1 development history includes multiple Phase 2 wins that stumbled at scale. Phase 3 oral trials are scheduled for H2 2026, meaning commercial availability is realistically 2028 at the earliest after regulatory review.

What does matter for you right now - regardless of which GLP-1 medication you use - is nutrient status. Every GLP-1 therapy suppresses appetite significantly, reducing total caloric intake and therefore total micronutrient intake. Research across 2025 and 2026 has confirmed real deficiency risks in vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, magnesium, and zinc in people using GLP-1 medications. Those gaps exist with every drug in this class - including the new oral entrants - and they do not wait for the next approved pill. GLP-1 Shield is designed specifically to address these documented nutrient gaps in GLP-1 users.

Frequently asked questions

What is VK2735 and when will it be available?

VK2735 is an oral tablet that acts as a dual agonist of GLP-1 and GIP receptors, developed by Viking Therapeutics. The oral formulation is in Phase 2, with Phase 3 trials planned for H2 2026. Based on that timeline, it is unlikely to receive commercial approval before 2028 at the earliest, depending on regulatory review speed.

How does VK2735 compare to Foundayo?

Foundayo (orforglipron), FDA-approved in April 2026, is a GLP-1 mono-agonist oral pill achieving around 7-9% weight loss over a year. VK2735 is a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist that produced 12.2% weight loss in 13 weeks in Phase 2. Direct comparison is not yet possible, but the dual agonism mechanism - the same approach that makes tirzepatide outperform semaglutide - suggests VK2735 could produce greater long-term efficacy if Phase 3 data holds.

Are the GI side effects of VK2735 worse than Ozempic or Wegovy?

Based on Phase 2 data, 98% of adverse events were mild-to-moderate, and most resolved with continued treatment. GI side effects are a class effect of GLP-1 medications. VK2735's tolerability appears competitive with existing agents, though direct head-to-head comparisons require randomised trial designs, which do not yet exist for this drug.

What nutrients should I take while on GLP-1 medications?

Research consistently identifies vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, magnesium, and zinc as the nutrients most at risk in GLP-1 users. Reduced appetite leads to reduced food intake, and these micronutrients are often the first to fall short. A supplement designed specifically for GLP-1 users - like GLP-1 Shield - addresses these gaps more precisely than a generic multivitamin.