By Dr. Asnat Raziel, bariatric surgeon specializing in obesity treatment, metabolic health and healthy longevity; Director of the Multidisciplinary Center for Obesity Treatment, Assia Medical, Assuta Ramat HaChayal, Tel Aviv
The VK2735 injection comes to ObesityWeek
Viking’s VK2735 injection is one of the investigational drugs I find most interesting this year. Viking will present two posters at ObesityWeek, the American obesity congress in Washington. It runs from November 14 to 17. The first covers a phase 3 trial in people with diabetes. Another poster takes a new look at the phase 2 trial. That trial showed up to 14.7% weight loss in 13 weeks.
To be clear: VK2735 is an investigational drug. No regulator in Israel or the United States has approved it.
What is the VK2735 injection and how does it work?
VK2735 acts on two receptors for satiety hormones: GLP-1 and GIP. In other words, it uses the same principle as Mounjaro, but with a different molecule. These hormones slow stomach emptying, increase the feeling of fullness and improve blood sugar control.
The company is developing the drug as a weekly injection and also as a pill. In addition, it is testing maintenance doses to hold on to weight loss over time. If you want to understand the differences between the drugs already available, I wrote about who Mounjaro is for and its indications.
What did the VENTURE trial show?
VENTURE was a phase 2 randomized, double-blind trial with a placebo control group. It enrolled adults with obesity, or with overweight and at least one related condition. The trial excluded people with diabetes. Participants received a weekly injection for 13 weeks.
The journal published the results in January 2026 in the journal Obesity:
- At 2.5 mg: an average loss of 9.2 kg, or 9.1% of body weight.
- At 15 mg: an average loss of 14.6 kg, or 14.7% of body weight.
- Placebo group: a loss of only 1.8 kg, or 1.7%.
- At least 5% weight loss: 93% of patients on the drug (130 of 140), compared with 12% on placebo (4 of 34).
What’s more, weight had not plateaued by week 13, the company said. So longer treatment may lead to greater weight loss. The phase 3 trials will test that.
The VK2735 injection: safety and side effects
As with every drug in this class, the most common side effects were gastrointestinal. However, they became less frequent after the dose-escalation phase. According to the company, most side effects were mild to moderate. About as many people stopped treatment as on placebo.
What will Viking present at ObesityWeek?
According to the company’s November 9 announcement, the company will show two posters:
- VANQUISH-2: Dr. Jamy Ard will present, on November 14, the baseline characteristics of participants in the phase 3 trial in adults with overweight and type 2 diabetes.
- VENTURE: Dr. Harold Bays will present, on November 15, the injection’s effect on obesity severity and cardiometabolic measures.
The announcement itself includes no new data. So the numbers in this article come from the trial that the journal has already published. I will update if the posters reveal new findings.
The phase 3 program for the VK2735 injection
The company is running two large phase 3 trials, each lasting 78 weeks. VANQUISH-1 enrolled about 4,650 adults with obesity, or overweight and a related condition. VANQUISH-2 includes about 1,100 adults with type 2 diabetes. In both trials, participants receive 7.5 mg, 12.5 mg, 17.5 mg or placebo once a week.
Viking is also developing VK3019, an investigational drug that acts on the amylin receptor. If you want to read more, I also wrote about what Lilly will present at ObesityWeek and about the investigational weight-loss pill aleniglipron.
What does this mean for you?
First, this drug is still in trials. If regulators approve it, that will likely happen only after the phase 3 trials end. So today the choice is among approved drugs, such as Wegovy, Mounjaro and Foundayo.
Second, the number of drugs in development is good news. Competition brings more options, pill versions and, in the long run, more affordable prices. If you are considering treatment, my guide on how to start weight-loss medication will help you prepare for your visit with your doctor.
The bottom line
In its phase 2 trial, the VK2735 injection showed up to 14.7% weight loss in 13 weeks, with side effects mainly in the digestive system. Researchers will share more analyses at ObesityWeek, and later we will learn whether the results hold up in the large trials.
This article is general information and does not replace personal medical advice.
References
Viking Therapeutics Announces Two Poster Presentations at ObesityWeek 2026
Viking Therapeutics, the company developing the drug, funded the trial.
