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AMIRAVOResearch Library

VK2735 vs tirzepatide

VK2735 and tirzepatide target the same two receptors: both are dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists 1,2. Tirzepatide is FDA-approved as Mounjaro and Zepbound, whereas VK2735 is investigational, with a published 13-week phase 2 trial and phase 3 trials under way 1,3,4. No Drugs@FDA record for VK2735 was returned on 24 October 2026, and no trial comparing the two was identified 5,6.

Unbranded reference vial illustrating VK2735; not an actual product
VK2735
Investigational
Unbranded reference vial illustrating Tirzepatide; not an actual product
Tirzepatide
FDA-approved

Side by side

FieldVK2735Tirzepatide
ClassDual GLP-1 receptor and GIP receptor agonist (investigational) 1Dual GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist 2
Origin and structurePeptide incorporating the activity of both incretins, with a side chain described as extending half-life 1; no PubChem compound record was returned 7Synthetic peptide based on the GIP sequence with a C20 fatty diacid at lysine 20; molecular weight 4813.53 Da 2
Proposed mechanismBinds GLP-1 and GIP receptors (reported IC50 188 nM and 325 nM, citing unpublished developer data) 1Binds and activates GIP and GLP-1 receptors; glucose-dependent insulin secretion and lower glucagon 2
Half-lifeNot located in the sources reviewedAbout 5 days (Mounjaro); about 5 to 6 days in overweight or obesity (Zepbound) 2,8
Highest human trial phasePhase 3 (VANQUISH 1, active, not recruiting; oral SUNRISE trials not yet recruiting) 4,9; phase 2 published 1Approved; phase 3 programme published 10,11
FDA statusNot approved; no Drugs@FDA application record as of 24 October 2026 5Approved as Mounjaro (13 May 2022) and Zepbound (8 November 2023), per Drugs@FDA as of 24 October 2026 3
Published human outcomesVENTURE (176 US adults without diabetes): mean body-weight change of 9.1% to 14.7% reduction vs 1.7% with placebo at 13 weeks 1SURMOUNT-1: -15.0% to -20.9% vs -3.1% with placebo at 72 weeks 10; lower apnea-hypopnea index in SURMOUNT-OSA 11
Safety signalsMainly gastrointestinal (drug-related nausea 36.6%); adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in up to 20% of the highest-dose group; one death judged unrelated 1Boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumours in rats; gastrointestinal reactions most common 2
WADA statusNot named on the 2026 Prohibited List; class S0 covers drugs under clinical development with no current approval by any governmental health authority 12Not named on the 2026 Prohibited List 12; GLP-1 receptor agonist status, including tirzepatide, unchanged for 2027 13
Who funded the evidenceViking Therapeutics 1,4Eli Lilly 10,11

VK2735: what the data says

VK2735 is developed by Viking Therapeutics in subcutaneous and oral forms 1,9.

  • In VENTURE, a 13-week phase 2 trial at 20 US sites in adults with obesity or overweight and a weight-related condition (human data), mean body-weight reduction ranged from 9.1% to 14.7% across four doses vs 1.7% with placebo; 93% of actively treated participants reached at least a 5% reduction vs 12% on placebo 1.
  • Treatment-emergent adverse events were mostly mild or moderate; adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation ranged from 3% to 20% across dose groups vs 0% with placebo 1.
  • VANQUISH 1, a 78-week phase 3 trial with an estimated 4500 participants, is active but not recruiting 4.

Tirzepatide: what the data says

Tirzepatide is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction in high-risk adults with type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro) and for chronic weight management and obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity (Zepbound) 2,8.

  • In SURMOUNT-1 (2539 adults without diabetes; human data), body-weight change at 72 weeks was -15.0% to -20.9% vs -3.1% with placebo 10.
  • Adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in 4.3% to 7.1% of tirzepatide groups vs 2.6% with placebo 10.

Key research differences

  • Regulatory status: tirzepatide is FDA-approved; VK2735 had no Drugs@FDA record on 24 October 2026 3,5.
  • Evidence maturity: VK2735's published human efficacy data come from a 13-week phase 2 trial, whereas tirzepatide has 72-week phase 3 data and outcome-based indications 1,8,10.
  • Formulations: VK2735 is being tested in oral as well as subcutaneous forms, while tirzepatide is labelled as an injection 2,9.
  • Structural disclosure: tirzepatide's structure and molecular weight are given on its label, whereas no compound record for VK2735 was returned by PubChem 2,7.
  • Developers: VK2735 trials are funded by Viking Therapeutics and tirzepatide trials by Eli Lilly 1,10.

Where the evidence is limited

No trial comparing VK2735 and tirzepatide was identified 6. VENTURE lasted 13 weeks with 35 participants per arm, so its results cannot be set against 72-week phase 3 data 1,10. VK2735 receptor-binding values cited in VENTURE come from unpublished developer data 1.

Frequently asked questions

Is VK2735 the same as tirzepatide?
No. Both are dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists, but VK2735 is a different investigational molecule developed by Viking Therapeutics 1,2.
Does VK2735 lead to more body-weight change than tirzepatide?
That cannot be judged. No head-to-head trial exists, and VK2735's published trial lasted 13 weeks compared with 72 weeks for SURMOUNT-1 1,6,10.
Is VK2735 FDA-approved?
No. An openFDA query of Drugs@FDA on 24 October 2026 returned no application record; phase 3 trials are under way 4,5.

References

  1. Weekly Subcutaneous VK2735, a GIP/GLP-1 Receptor Dual Agonist, for Weight Management: Phase 2, Randomized, 13-Week VENTURE Study (full text) Obesity (Silver Spring). 2026
  2. MOUNJARO (tirzepatide) injection: prescribing information, DailyMed set ID d2d7da5d-ad07-4228-955f-cf7e355c8cc0 (label version dated 27 August 2026) FDA label (via openFDA). 2026
  3. Drugs@FDA application records for NDA 215866 (Mounjaro), NDA 217806 (Zepbound), NDA 209637 (Ozempic), NDA 215256 (Wegovy), NDA 022341 (Victoza) and NDA 206321 (Saxenda): original approval dates (queried 24 October 2026) Drugs@FDA (via openFDA). 2026
  4. VANQUISH 1: VK2735 for Weight Management Phase 3 (NCT07104500), registry record ClinicalTrials.gov. 2025
  5. Drugs@FDA application data queried through openFDA for VK2735 (no matching application record returned on 24 October 2026) openFDA / Drugs@FDA. 2026
  6. ClinicalTrials.gov registry search for tirzepatide AND VK2735 as interventions (0 records; retrieved 24 October 2026) ClinicalTrials.gov. 2026
  7. PubChem compound name search for VK2735 (no compound record returned on 24 October 2026) PubChem. 2026
  8. ZEPBOUND (tirzepatide) injection: prescribing information, DailyMed set ID 487cd7e7-434c-4925-99fa-aa80b1cc776b (label version dated 28 August 2026) FDA label (via openFDA). 2026
  9. ClinicalTrials.gov registry search for VK2735 as intervention (8 records, 4 phase 3 including oral SUNRISE 1 and 2; retrieved 24 October 2026) ClinicalTrials.gov. 2026
  10. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity (SURMOUNT-1) N Engl J Med. 2022
  11. Tirzepatide for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity (SURMOUNT-OSA) N Engl J Med. 2024
  12. The 2026 Prohibited List - World Anti-Doping Code, as published in the Netherlands Treaty Series (Tractatenblad 2026, 25; Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention appendix, in force 1 January 2026) Tractatenblad (Official Publications of the Kingdom of the Netherlands). 2026
  13. WADA publishes 2027 Prohibited List (news release, 21 September 2026) World Anti-Doping Agency. 2026

For research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. Not a drug, food, or dietary supplement. This page compares published research and is not medical advice or a recommendation.