Viking Advances VK2735 Maintenance Strategy: Oral Maintenance Trial Starts Oct 6; Oral Phase 3 Still Teed Up for Q4 2026
Viking Therapeutics announced on Oct. 6, 2026 the initiation of Part 2 of its two-part VK2735 maintenance dosing study — the next step in its effort to solve the adherence problem that defines chronic obesity therapy. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolls ~195 adults with obesity, all of whom first receive 21 weeks of weekly subcutaneous VK2735 induction, then transition to maintenance via daily oral, weekly oral, monthly subcutaneous, or every-other-week subcutaneous regimens (or placebo), with weight change assessed from Week 21 through Week 33. CEO Brian Lian:
"We are 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 to best align with a patient's individual weight loss journey… We look forward to reporting the results from Part 2 of this study in 2027."
This builds directly on the Sept. 22 Part 1 topline (see prior revision below) showing 90%+ of weight loss retained on less-frequent injectable dosing, which sent VKTX shares up sharply.
Phase 3 status: Viking's injectable Phase 3 program is fully enrolled — VANQUISH-1 (~4,500 adults without T2D) and VANQUISH-2 (~1,000 adults with T2D), both 78-week trials randomizing to VK2735 7.5/12.5/17.5 mg or placebo. The oral Phase 3 studies (designed to mirror VANQUISH) remain on track to begin in Q4 2026 per company guidance — the initiation has not yet been announced as of Oct. 12, so the standing watch on this milestone stays open.
Investor framing: Viking's pitch is not peak-efficacy superiority vs. Lilly/Novo but optionality — induction-plus-flexible-maintenance across formulations, targeting adherence and persistence, the commercial weak point of daily/weekly incumbents. Part 2 data (2027) plus the oral Phase 3 start are the next two proof points; a Q4 oral Phase 3 slip would be the first negative signal.