Reviewed & approved by Dr. Nova Reyes · Last checked 2026-10-25. ← Back to Evidence Library
VK2735: what the evidence says
At a glance
What it is: an experimental lab-made peptide that acts on two hormone receptors, GLP-1 (the target of semaglutide) and GIP (a second gut hormone), like tirzepatide. Viking is testing both an injection and a tablet. R1, R3
What the evidence says: one short phase 2 injection trial, run by Viking, found clearly more weight loss than placebo (a dummy treatment) in adults with obesity and no diabetes. Results for the tablet come only from the company. R1, R2
Biggest risks: stomach side effects. The published trial was short, so long-term safety, heart outcomes and whether weight stays off are unknown. Gray-market vials add unknown identity, strength and purity. R1
| Human Human evidence (weight, injection) | Limited: one short phase 2 RCT (randomized controlled trial; 176 people, no diabetes), run and paid for by Viking; no phase 3 results R1, R4 |
| Human Human evidence (weight, tablet) | Very limited: one phase 2 trial reported only by the company and at a conference; no peer-reviewed paper found R2 |
| Human Type 2 diabetes, heart outcomes | Not rated: trials in people with diabetes are running and have no results; no heart-outcome trial found R4 |
| Animal Animal evidence | Not rated here |
| Regulatory | Not FDA-approved (no Drugs@FDA record) · EU, Japan, China: UNVERIFIED not checked against EMA, PMDA or NMPA · WADA: not named; S0 (unapproved substances) likely applies R5 |
| Established human dose | None. There is no label. Trial study arms are listed only in Study details |
Evidence verdict: Human (weight, injection): Limited · Human (weight, tablet): Very limited · Type 2 diabetes and heart: not rated · Animal: not rated here Card verdict: Limited (weight, injection) · Oral tablet: Very limited Card note: Varies by use, see page
This page reports what studies used. It is not dosing advice.
Legend: HUMAN data · ANIMAL / LAB data · UNKNOWN · UNVERIFIED: not yet confirmed against a primary source
What is it?
VK2735 is a lab-made peptide that activates both the GLP-1 receptor and the GIP receptor. R1 This is the same pair of targets as tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro); see the tirzepatide page. Unknown How VK2735 compares with tirzepatide in people has not been tested in a published trial.
Does it help weight loss?
- Human VENTURE (phase 2, injection): in adults with obesity or overweight and at least one weight-related condition, but no diabetes, average weight loss ranged from 9.1% to 14.7% across VK2735 arms vs 1.7% on placebo. 93% on VK2735 lost at least 5% of their weight vs 12% on placebo. R1 The trial was short, so these numbers say little about long-term results.
- Human VENTURE-Oral (phase 2, tablet): in 280 adults, Viking reported weight loss of up to 12.2%, with up to 97% losing at least 5% vs 10% on placebo. R2, R3 [UNVERIFIED: company figures; no peer-reviewed paper found on PubMed.]
- Caution Funding: VENTURE was designed and analyzed by Viking employees, and the journal article is copyrighted by Viking. R1
- Unknown Phase 3 results for the injection (VANQUISH) are expected in 2027; the tablet phase 3 program (SUNRISE) has just started. R3, R4
Does it help type 2 diabetes?
- Unknown People with diabetes were excluded from VENTURE. Phase 3 trials in people with type 2 diabetes are running. R1, R4
Is it safe?
What the trials reported:
- Caution Stomach side effects were the most common side effects, and were reported less often after people reached their steady amount. R1 Unknown The abstract we reviewed does not give rates or dropout numbers.
- Caution Tablet: Viking reported that 98% of drug-related side effects were mild or moderate, mostly stomach-related and early in treatment. R2, R3 [UNVERIFIED: company figure.]
- Caution GLP-1 class risks: VK2735 acts on the GLP-1 receptor, so the risks known for that drug class (pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, rodent thyroid tumors, low blood sugar with insulin or sulfonylureas, older blood-sugar-lowering pills) are reasonable to expect; see the semaglutide page. Unknown The abstracts we reviewed do not report rates of these events.
- Unknown Heart safety: no heart-outcome trial was found.
- Unknown Long-term safety and rare harms are unknown.
Compounded and gray-market VK2735: extra risks
- Caution Unregulated "research" vials and tablets. Because VK2735 is only used inside clinical trials, any vial or tablet sold online has no regulatory quality control, and its identity, strength and sterility are unknown.
- Caution Don't stack with other GLP-1 drugs. Taking VK2735 with semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide or similar drugs means two drugs acting on the same receptor, which no trial on this page tested. Unknown
- Caution Measuring mistakes. FDA has reported people hospitalized after drawing up too much from multi-injection GLP-1 vials. The same syringe-marking problem applies here. See the section on measuring mistakes on our semaglutide page.
What we don't know
- Unknown What is actually in a given gray-market vial or tablet
- Unknown Whether weight loss continues or stays off over longer treatment R4
- Unknown Whether VK2735 helps type 2 diabetes R4
- Unknown Whether it is safe for the heart over many years
- Unknown Peer-reviewed results for the tablet R2
Is it legal?
Not FDA-approved; no Drugs@FDA record was found (openFDA search, Oct 24, 2026). Viking describes VK2735 as investigational, and we found no announced filing for approval. R3 EU, Japan, China: UNVERIFIED not checked against EMA, PMDA or NMPA. WADA: not named on the 2026 Prohibited List; S0 bans at all times any unapproved substance in development that no other section covers, which describes VK2735 R5. WADA has not ruled on VK2735 by name. As of Oct 24, 2026.
What's in the vial?
Real VK2735 is only available inside clinical trials. We have not found published lab tests of gray-market VK2735. Under the Open Peptide Standard, a GLP-1 vial overfilled by more than 20% is a critical fail (draft threshold). See results at /tests/. A passing test covers one batch, tested on one date. It does not mean the compound itself is safe.
What do users report?
Self-report, not evidence.
Unknown TBD. We'll only list this once we can cite a public source.
Study details
These are doses researchers used, not recommendations. All trials run by Viking Therapeutics.
R1, R2 Human: Weight trials
| Study | People | Route | Dose used | Follow-up | Reported | Side effects / dropouts | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VENTURE (Bays 2026), obesity/overweight, no diabetes, NCT06068946 | 176 enrolled | Subcutaneous | Once weekly, 2.5 mg up to 15 mg (other arms not listed in abstract) vs placebo | 13 wk | −9.1% (2.5 mg) to −14.7% (15 mg) vs −1.7%; ≥5% loss 93% vs 12% | Mainly GI, decreasing after titration | PMID 41508550 |
| VENTURE-Oral (company), NCT06828055 | 280 | Oral tablet | Once daily, several dose arms vs placebo; escalation in 30 mg steps | 13 wk | Up to −12.2%; ≥5% loss up to 97% vs 10%; ≥10% up to 80% vs 5% | 98% of drug-related TEAEs mild/moderate | R3; Viking release, May 12, 2026 UNVERIFIED |
R3, R4 Company statements and ongoing trials (as of Oct 24, 2026)
- R3 Viking press release, SUNRISE oral phase 3 initiation, Oct 14, 2026: 68 wk, once-daily 27.5, 35 or 55 mg vs placebo; VANQUISH-1 and -2 ongoing. UNVERIFIED Company source.
- R4 ClinicalTrials.gov: VANQUISH-1 NCT07104500 (active, not recruiting, 4,500); VANQUISH-2, T2D NCT07104383 (active, ~1,000 per Viking); SUNRISE-1 NCT07868835 and SUNRISE-2, T2D NCT07868939 (not yet recruiting). Per Viking, VANQUISH runs 78 wk with weekly 7.5, 12.5 or 17.5 mg vs placebo R3; results expected 2H 2027 per Viking UNVERIFIED.
- FDA: no Drugs@FDA record (openFDA query, Oct 24, 2026). EMA, PMDA, NMPA: UNVERIFIED not checked.
Full reference list (all PMIDs verified on PubMed, Oct 24, 2026)
- Bays HE, et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2026;34(3):537-549. doi:10.1002/oby.70106. PMID 41508550
- Viking Therapeutics. VENTURE-Oral data at ECO 2026, press release, May 12, 2026 (link in Study details, R2).
- Viking Therapeutics. SUNRISE phase 3 initiation, press release, Oct 14, 2026. https://ir.vikingtherapeutics.com/2026-10-14-Viking-Therapeutics-Announces-Initiation-of-VK2735-Oral-Phase-3-Clinical-Program-in-Patients-with-Obesity
- ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT07104500, NCT07104383, NCT07868835, NCT07868939, NCT06068946, NCT06828055.
- WADA. World Anti-Doping Code International Standard: Prohibited List 2026 (in force Jan 1, 2026). https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/2026list_en_final_clean_september_2025.pdf (text read Oct 24, 2026)
Disclaimer
This page is for education and harm reduction. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation to use VK2735. Please talk to a clinician you trust before making medical decisions, seek care right away for severe stomach pain or repeated vomiting, and report problems to FDA MedWatch (https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch).
Approved for Adam Greene by Dr. Nova Reyes, 2026-10-25.