VK2735: Viking's Dual GLP-1/GIP Agonist
A next-generation GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist from Viking Therapeutics, in development as both a weekly injection and a daily pill. Here's what the peer-reviewed Phase 2 data actually shows — and what the viral "beats retatrutide" hype leaves out.
How It Works
The GLP-1 receptor component increases satiety, slows gastric emptying and enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion — the same appetite-suppressing pathway used by semaglutide and the GLP-1 half of tirzepatide.
The GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptor component augments insulin response and influences adipose-tissue energy handling. Combining GIP with GLP-1 is the same dual mechanism behind tirzepatide.
Reviews of the incretin field describe dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists as generally producing greater weight loss than single GLP-1 agonists at the class level — the rationale for combining both receptors in one molecule.
Viking is developing VK2735 in two forms — a once-weekly subcutaneous injection and a daily oral tablet. Only the injectable Phase 2 data is peer-reviewed so far; the oral program data is not yet published.
What the Data Shows
These are figures lifted from four separate trials of very different lengths (13 vs 36 vs 48 vs 72 weeks), not a head-to-head comparison. Weight loss on incretin drugs keeps climbing for a year or more, so a 13-week number cannot be ranked against a 72-week one. Every figure links to its source trial on PubMed above. See Sources.
Key Takeaways
- In the peer-reviewed VENTURE Phase 2 trial (NCT06068946), weekly subcutaneous VK2735 produced 9.1% weight loss at 2.5 mg up to 14.7% at 15 mg over just 13 weeks, versus 1.7% for placebo (Bays et al., Obesity 2026).
- 93% of active-treatment participants (130/140) lost at least 5% of body weight, compared with 12% (4/34) on placebo.
- VK2735 is a GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist — the same two-receptor class as tirzepatide.
- The most common side effects were gastrointestinal (nausea, etc.) and decreased in frequency after the dose was titrated up to steady state.
- Viking Therapeutics is developing both a weekly injection and a daily oral tablet form of VK2735.
- VK2735's headline 14.7% is over only 13 weeks; tirzepatide's 20.9% is over 72 weeks and retatrutide's 24.2% is over 48 weeks — so cross-trial "VK2735 beats retatrutide" claims compare very different treatment lengths and are not head-to-head.
- No peer-reviewed data yet shows how much weight VK2735 produces over 48–72 weeks, the standard obesity-trial horizon.
- The oral VK2735 tablet efficacy and safety data are not yet peer-reviewed; viral previews of a maintenance-study readout describe results that have not been published.
- VK2735 is an investigational drug — not FDA-approved, not sold by legitimate pharmacies or research vendors, and not a supplement.
- There are no long-term (multi-year) safety, cardiovascular-outcome, or muscle-preservation data for VK2735.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is VK2735?
VK2735 is an investigational GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist developed by Viking Therapeutics for weight management. It activates both the GLP-1 and GIP receptors — the same two-receptor mechanism as tirzepatide — and is being developed as both a once-weekly injection and a daily oral tablet.
How much weight did VK2735 produce in trials?
In the Phase 2 VENTURE trial, weekly subcutaneous VK2735 produced a mean weight reduction ranging from 9.1% at the 2.5 mg dose to 14.7% at the 15 mg dose over 13 weeks, versus 1.7% with placebo. 93% of treated participants lost at least 5% of body weight (Bays et al., Obesity 2026).
Is VK2735 better than retatrutide or tirzepatide?
Not on published head-to-head evidence. VK2735's 14.7% figure comes from a 13-week trial, while tirzepatide's 20.9% and retatrutide's 24.2% come from 72-week and 48-week trials respectively. Because the treatment durations differ so much, and no direct comparison trial has been published, claims that VK2735 outperforms them are premature.
Is there an oral VK2735 pill?
Viking Therapeutics is developing an oral tablet form of VK2735 alongside the injection, but the oral program efficacy and safety data are not yet peer-reviewed. Any specific oral results circulating on social media should be treated as unpublished until they appear in a trial report.
Can I buy VK2735?
No. VK2735 is an investigational drug still in clinical trials. It is not FDA-approved and is not legitimately sold by pharmacies or research-chemical vendors. Anything marketed as "VK2735" for sale should be treated with extreme caution.
Peer-Reviewed Sources
Every efficacy figure on this page is traceable to a published, peer-reviewed trial. The comparator drugs were each studied over different durations — read the trial lengths before comparing the numbers.
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Educational purposes only. Not medical advice.
VK2735 is an investigational drug in clinical trials — not FDA-approved and not legitimately available for purchase. Consult a licensed physician before making any decision about weight-management therapy.