Viking Therapeutics Starts Oral-Only Maintenance Dosing Trial of Obesity Drug VK2735 in 195 Patients

Viking Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VKTX) announced on October 6, 2026 the initiation of a new clinical trial evaluating oral maintenance dosing of its obesity drug VK2735, marking Part 2 of the company's broader maintenance dosing program. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will enroll approximately 195 adults with obesity, defined as a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher and otherwise healthy.

VK2735 is a dual agonist of the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, developed in both oral and subcutaneous formulations. The new trial follows positive topline results from Part 1 of the maintenance study, which evaluated monthly subcutaneous, weekly oral, and daily oral regimens after an initial weight loss phase. Viking had previously signaled its intent to pursue an oral-focused Part 2 following those results, citing the potential for VK2735 to offer an expanded suite of dosing options for patients.

The oral maintenance program is aimed at determining whether patients who achieve initial weight loss with VK2735 can sustain that loss through oral dosing alone, a question with significant commercial implications as the GLP-1 drug market grows rapidly. Results from the trial are expected to further define the competitive positioning of VK2735 relative to other agents in the obesity space.