The oral GLP-1/GIP treatment VK2735 has moved into Phase 3. On 14 October 2026, Viking Therapeutics said it has started SUNRISE, two late-stage studies of a once-daily VK2735 tablet in adults with obesity or overweight, one of them in people who also have type 2 diabetes. VK2735 is investigational: it is not approved anywhere, and starting a Phase 3 programme does not show that it works.
This guide explains what is known about this oral GLP-1/GIP treatment, what is still unproven, and how to read the numbers released so far.
Oral GLP-1/GIP treatment: key takeaways
- What it is: an investigational tablet that acts on two hormone receptors, GLP-1 and GIP.
- What started: SUNRISE, two randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, each aiming to enrol about 560 adults.
- How long: 68 weeks of once-daily treatment, judged on the percentage change in body weight against placebo.
- What is proven: only 13-week Phase 2 weight-loss data for the tablet, not long-term results.
- What is not: efficacy and safety at 68 weeks, and any regulatory approval.
What an oral GLP-1/GIP treatment is meant to do
GLP-1 and GIP are hormones that help regulate appetite and blood sugar, and medicines that copy their action are used for weight management and diabetes. Viking’s announcement points to semaglutide, which acts on GLP-1, and tirzepatide, which acts on both GLP-1 and GIP, as marketed examples. VK2735 is designed to act on both receptors, like tirzepatide, but as a daily tablet. Viking also develops a weekly injection of the same molecule.
Viking’s chief executive, Brian Lian, described oral VK2735 as the most advanced oral dual GLP-1/GIP agonist in clinical development and said a daily tablet could support adherence. These are the company’s statements. We have not independently verified the claim.
What the SUNRISE studies will test
- SUNRISE 1: adults with obesity or overweight, without type 2 diabetes, who have at least one weight-related condition.
- SUNRISE 2: adults with type 2 diabetes who are also obese or overweight.
- Arms in each study: VK2735 tablets at 27.5, 35 or 55 mg once daily, or placebo.
- Main measure: percentage change in body weight from the start, compared with placebo, after 68 weeks.
- Other measures: the share of participants losing at least 5%, 10%, 15% or 20% of their body weight, plus safety.
The announcement says the studies have been initiated but does not give a date when the first person was dosed, so we do not report one.
What the earlier data show about this oral GLP-1/GIP treatment
The tablet’s earlier data come from the VENTURE-Oral Phase 2 trial, which gave 280 adults with obesity or overweight and a weight-related condition either VK2735 tablets (15, 30, 60, 90 or 120 mg) or placebo for 13 weeks.
- People on 120 mg lost 12.2% of body weight on average, against 1.3% on placebo.
- Those on 30 mg lost 7.0% and those on 60 mg lost 8.7%.
- The 15 mg dose lost 2.3%, only about one percentage point better than placebo.
- Weight loss was still rising at 13 weeks, with no plateau, according to the company.
Side effects were mainly stomach and gut related. Vomiting affected 26% of people on VK2735 and 10% on placebo, and 28% of people on the drug stopped treatment early, against 18% on placebo, rising to 38% at 120 mg. The company said 98% of drug-related adverse events were mild or moderate and that most gut effects came early.
What is still unproven for this oral GLP-1/GIP treatment
Thirteen weeks is a short window. SUNRISE will run more than five times as long, which is our calculation from the 68-week design. Weight regain, tolerability over a year, and effects in people with type 2 diabetes are all open questions. The SUNRISE doses of 27.5, 35 and 55 mg are also different from the Phase 2 doses, and the announcement does not explain how they compare, so we cannot say what weight loss to expect.
Why the research matters
Obesity is widespread. The US National Center for Health Statistics reported that 40.3% of US adults aged 20 and over had obesity in August 2021 to August 2023, and 9.4% had severe obesity. Drug developers are pursuing many approaches, including injections, tablets and RNA-based medicines. For other recent obesity-drug news, see our reports on Roche’s licence of an obesity RNAi drug and on Ribo’s obesity siRNA trial application, or browse more pharmaceutical news.
Risks and caveats for the oral GLP-1/GIP treatment
- Starting a trial is not a result, and Phase 3 studies can fail.
- Only short-term tablet data exist, in a few hundred people.
- Early stopping was more common on VK2735 than on placebo in Phase 2.
- Results from different drugs and trials cannot be compared directly.
- Viking itself warns that earlier results may not be replicated.
In our assessment, the most important thing to watch is not the size of weight loss but how many people can stay on a tablet for 68 weeks. A pill that is easy to take but poorly tolerated would offer little advantage, so the dropout rates in SUNRISE will matter as much as the headline weight change.
What to watch next for the oral GLP-1/GIP treatment
- Recruitment progress and trial sites on the registry entries.
- Data from Viking’s ongoing oral maintenance dosing trial.
- Progress of Viking’s separate 78-week injection studies, VANQUISH-1 and VANQUISH-2.
- Any explanation of how the SUNRISE doses relate to the Phase 2 tablets.
Frequently asked questions
What is an oral GLP-1/GIP treatment?
A tablet that acts on the GLP-1 and GIP hormone receptors, which help control appetite and blood sugar. VK2735 is an investigational example.
Is this oral GLP-1/GIP treatment approved?
No. VK2735 has not been approved by any regulator and is still being tested.
How many people will be in the SUNRISE studies?
Each study aims for about 560 adults, which is about 1,120 in total by our calculation.
How long is treatment?
68 weeks of once-daily tablets.
Can I get VK2735 now?
No. It is available only to people taking part in clinical trials. Anyone considering weight-loss medicine should speak to their doctor about approved options.
How we reported this: we relied on Viking Therapeutics’ announcement of 14 October 2026, its Phase 2 results release, the ClinicalTrials.gov listings and US National Center for Health Statistics data. Figures labelled as ours are our own calculations. Last updated: 15 October 2026. This article is news reporting and not medical advice.
