Viking Therapeutics' Oral VK2735 Delivers 12.2% Weight Loss in Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral Trial
On May 12, 2026, Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: VKTX) presented highly positive data from its 13-week Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral dosing trial (also referred to as VENTURE-2) at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Istanbul, Turkey. The trial evaluated the oral tablet formulation of VK2735, a dual agonist of the GLP-1 and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) receptors.
VK2735 is being developed in both subcutaneous and oral formulations. The oral tablet represents a highly differentiated asset in the obesity pipeline because it could allow patients to transition from subcutaneous injections to oral maintenance therapy using the exact same active therapeutic agent.
Key Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral Findings
- Efficacy: Once-daily oral VK2735 demonstrated statistically significant, dose-dependent weight loss across all cohorts, with the highest dose (120 mg daily) achieving a mean weight loss of 12.2% (26.6 lbs) from baseline at 13 weeks. Placebo-adjusted weight loss was 10.9% (p<0.0001).
- Progressive Weight Loss: Doses greater than 15 mg showed early weight loss (starting in Week 1) that continued progressively through the 13-week treatment window with no plateau observed, suggesting that longer treatment durations would yield even greater weight reduction.
- High Responder Rates: In the 120 mg cohort, 80% of participants achieved ≥10% weight loss, compared to just 5% in the placebo group.
- Tolerability: The oral formulation was well tolerated. Approximately 98% of drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were mild or moderate, primarily consisting of mild gastrointestinal events that occurred early in treatment and resolved with continued dosing. Progressive titration in 30 mg increments successfully managed tolerability.
Clinical Pipeline and Corporate Strategy
Viking plans to initiate oral Phase 3 registration studies later in 2026. This oral program runs alongside Viking's subcutaneous VK2735 formulation, which is currently enrolling in the Phase 3 VANQUISH registration program (comprising the VANQUISH-1 and VANQUISH-2 trials).
Financial and Market Position
Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a market capitalization of $3.80 billion. Because it is in the development phase, it currently generates no revenue and reported a $164.1 million operating loss for the quarter ending March 31, 2026, driven by surging research and development expenses for its late-stage obesity programs. However, Viking maintains a clean balance sheet with $118.1 million in cash and zero debt, and its promising clinical data have made it a frequent subject of M&A speculation in the biopharmaceutical sector.
The high efficacy of oral VK2735 at just 13 weeks positions it as a potential best-in-class oral dual GLP-1/GIP agonist, contrasting with existing oral options like Eli Lilly's approved small-molecule Eli Lilly's Foundayo (Orforglipron) Secures FDA Approval and Launches into Fierce Oral GLP-1 Battle and Novo Nordisk's peptide-based European Medicines Agency Backs Novo Nordisk's Oral Wegovy Tablets.