San Diego – October 06, 2026 -- Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) has initiated Part 2 of a maintenance dosing study for VK2735, its dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, testing oral tablet regimens alongside subcutaneous options to sustain weight loss after initial treatment.
Trial enrolls 195 obese adults to test five maintenance pathways
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will enroll approximately 195 adults with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). All participants first receive 21 weeks of weekly subcutaneous VK2735 or placebo before transitioning to one of five maintenance arms: daily oral doses, weekly oral doses, monthly subcutaneous doses, every-other-week subcutaneous doses, or placebo. The study runs through Week 33, tracking safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and body weight change from baseline and from Week 21.
Part 1 results already showed positive subcutaneous maintenance data
Viking recently reported positive top-line results from Part 1 of the two-part maintenance study, which evaluated subcutaneous dosing regimens for sustaining initial weight loss. CEO Brian Lian said the company is "eager to continue this study with the initiation of Part 2, which will explore multiple regimens, both oral and subcutaneous, with the potential to provide greater optionality and flexibility."
Two Phase 3 trials with 5,500 combined patients remain fully enrolled
Viking is simultaneously running VANQUISH-1 and VANQUISH-2, two Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials assessing weekly subcutaneous VK2735 over 78 weeks. VANQUISH-1 has fully enrolled roughly 4,500 adults without type 2 diabetes who have obesity or are overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity. VANQUISH-2 has fully enrolled approximately 1,000 adults with type 2 diabetes who have obesity or are overweight. Both trials randomize patients across four weekly arms: VK2735 at 7.5 mg, 12.5 mg, 17.5 mg, or placebo.
Viking expects to report results from Part 2 of the maintenance study in 2027.