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The next generation of metabolic research is becoming increasingly competitive.
Semaglutide established GLP-1 receptor agonism as a major research and therapeutic field. Tirzepatide subsequently demonstrated the potential of targeting GIP and GLP-1 simultaneously.
Now researchers are investigating whether the same dual-receptor strategy can be developed in new molecular formats — including compounds that could potentially be available as both injections and tablets.
One of the most interesting examples is VK2735.
Developed by Viking Therapeutics, VK2735 is an investigational dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist being studied in both subcutaneous and oral formulations.
With injectable Phase 3 studies underway and oral Phase 3 development approaching, VK2735 has become an important compound to watch.
So what is VK2735, how does it work, and how is it different from tirzepatide?
What is VK2735?
VK2735 is an investigational metabolic compound designed to activate two receptors:
GLP-1 — glucagon-like peptide-1
and
GIP — glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide.
These are the same broad receptor systems targeted by tirzepatide.
However, VK2735 is a separate molecule being independently developed by Viking Therapeutics.
The programme is investigating VK2735 for obesity and other metabolic disorders.
Most interestingly, researchers are developing both injectable and oral versions of the compound.
Is VK2735 a GLP-1?
Not exactly.
VK2735 is a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist.
That means it doesn’t target GLP-1 alone.
This distinction has become increasingly important as metabolic research has expanded beyond single-receptor drugs.
For comparison:
Semaglutide: GLP-1
Tirzepatide: GIP + GLP-1
VK2735: GIP + GLP-1
Retatrutide: GIP + GLP-1 + glucagon
The receptors targeted by VK2735 therefore aren’t unprecedented.
What researchers are interested in is how this particular molecule behaves pharmacologically and whether its different formulations offer useful characteristics.
Is VK2735 the same as tirzepatide?
No.
This is likely to become one of the most commonly asked questions about VK2735.
Both compounds target GIP and GLP-1 receptors, but they are different molecules developed by different companies.
Tirzepatide was developed by Eli Lilly and has already received regulatory approval.
VK2735 remains an investigational compound.
The fact that two compounds target the same receptors also doesn’t mean they will necessarily produce identical results.
Molecular structure, receptor activity, pharmacokinetics, dosing intervals and other characteristics can all influence how a compound behaves.
Why is the oral version of VK2735 interesting?
This could become one of the most important aspects of the programme.
Viking is developing a once-daily oral tablet formulation of VK2735 alongside the injectable version.
Delivering peptide-based metabolic compounds orally can be difficult because peptides generally face degradation and absorption challenges within the gastrointestinal system.
Yet the Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral study reported statistically significant body-weight reductions across the investigated oral doses.
At 13 weeks, reductions reached up to 12.2% from baseline in participants receiving VK2735.
That result has supported plans to move the oral programme into Phase 3.
Is oral VK2735 in Phase 3?
Not quite yet as of October 2026 — but it’s close.
Viking says it expects to begin Phase 3 studies of oral VK2735 during the fourth quarter of 2026.
That’s an important milestone.
It means VK2735 could potentially become one of the first oral dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists to reach late-stage clinical development.
The injectable programme is already further advanced.
What are the VANQUISH trials?
The injectable Phase 3 development programme is known as VANQUISH.
These studies are evaluating subcutaneous VK2735 in people with obesity or overweight, including populations with and without type 2 diabetes.
Phase 3 studies are particularly important because they involve substantially larger participant populations than earlier clinical trials.
Their findings will provide much stronger evidence about VK2735’s efficacy and safety profile.
What did the oral VK2735 trial find?
The Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral study examined once-daily VK2735 tablets.
After 13 weeks, mean body-weight reductions reached up to 12.2% from baseline.
Viking also reported that up to 80% of participants within treatment groups achieved at least 10% weight reduction, compared with 5% receiving placebo.
Those are interesting findings, but there’s an important caveat.
Thirteen weeks is a relatively short period.
Longer and larger Phase 3 studies will be required before researchers can properly understand how oral VK2735 performs over extended periods.
VK2735 vs tirzepatide: what’s the difference?
Mechanistically, they’re closely related.
Both activate:
GIP + GLP-1 receptors.
But direct comparisons based on percentages from separate clinical trials can be misleading.
Different trials can involve different populations, durations, doses, titration schedules and statistical methods.
Until appropriately designed comparative studies are available, it isn’t scientifically sound to simply compare the largest weight-loss percentage reported for each drug and declare a winner.
The more interesting distinction may eventually be formulation.
VK2735 is being developed simultaneously as an injection and a tablet.
VK2735 vs orforglipron
This comparison is more fundamentally different.
The orforglipron article we recently covered examined a small-molecule oral GLP-1 receptor agonist.
VK2735 targets both GLP-1 and GIP receptors and is being developed in oral and injectable forms.
So researchers are effectively investigating two different solutions to oral metabolic treatment:
Orforglipron: non-peptide small molecule targeting GLP-1.
VK2735: dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist with an oral formulation.
This illustrates how quickly oral metabolic research is diversifying.
Could VK2735 be used for weight maintenance?
This is one of the newest and most interesting questions surrounding the compound.
Much of metabolic research has focused on initial weight reduction.
But researchers are increasingly interested in what happens afterwards.
Viking has therefore conducted a study investigating alternative VK2735 maintenance schedules after initial treatment.
The company announced topline results from this maintenance study in September 2026, examining strategies involving oral and subcutaneous VK2735.
This represents an important shift in research thinking.
The question is no longer simply:
How much weight can a compound reduce?
Researchers increasingly also need to understand:
What is required to maintain the biological effect over the long term?
Could someone switch between injectable and oral VK2735?
That’s one of the possibilities researchers are exploring rather than something currently established for clinical use.
Having the same active compound available in oral and injectable formulations creates interesting research possibilities.
For example, future studies could investigate whether different formulations have roles during different stages of treatment or maintenance.
Viking itself has highlighted the potential flexibility provided by developing both formulations.
But VK2735 remains investigational, so these possibilities shouldn’t be confused with established treatment recommendations.
Is VK2735 available in the UK?
No.
VK2735 has not been approved for routine clinical use in the UK.
It remains in clinical development.
The injectable programme is undergoing Phase 3 investigation, while oral Phase 3 development is expected to begin shortly.
Regulatory review would still be required before any future commercial availability.
When could VK2735 become available?
There is currently no confirmed UK release date.
Phase 3 studies must first be completed and analysed.
If those studies are successful, Viking would then need to seek regulatory approval in the relevant markets.
Drug-development timelines can change considerably, so claims circulating online about a definite VK2735 launch date should be treated cautiously.
Why is VK2735 important?
VK2735 isn’t interesting simply because it is another GLP-1-related compound.
It demonstrates another direction in which metabolic research is evolving.
Researchers are now investigating:
single GLP-1 agonists;
dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists;
triple agonists;
amylin-based compounds;
GLP-1/amylin combinations;
small-molecule oral agonists;
and compounds capable of potentially being delivered in multiple formulations.
VK2735 sits at the intersection of several of these trends.
Its receptor mechanism resembles tirzepatide, but its development programme is simultaneously exploring oral delivery, injectable delivery and maintenance strategies.
The next question may be maintenance
For years, the headline question surrounding metabolic compounds has been:
How much weight was lost?
That is gradually becoming insufficient.
As increasingly effective compounds reach later-stage research, scientists also need to understand long-term maintenance, dosing frequency, tolerability, adherence and what happens when intensive treatment is reduced.
VK2735’s development programme is therefore worth following for reasons extending beyond headline weight-loss percentages.
It may help researchers understand how oral and injectable formulations of the same dual agonist could potentially fit into longer-term metabolic strategies.
At Klarity Research, we’ll continue following VK2735 and other emerging metabolic compounds as Phase 3 evidence develops.
For educational and research information only. This article is not medical advice.