08:46 AM EDT, 06/25/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Viking Therapeutics ( VKTX ) said Wednesday it has started a phase 3 trial of VK2735, its dual agonist of glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, or GIP, receptors to potentially treat obesity.

The trial includes two studies evaluating a subcutaneous formulation of VK2735 over 78 weeks, the company said, adding one targets to enroll about 4,500 adults with obesity and the other looking to enroll about 1,100 adults with type 2 diabetes who are obese or overweight.

The primary endpoint of the trials is percent change in body weight from baseline versus placebo. The secondary endpoints will evaluate the percentage of patients who achieve at least 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% weight loss, the company said.

Viking said it plans to begin later this year an additional study evaluating a monthly maintenance regimen for VK2735. It also expects to report results of a phase 2 trial of its oral VK2735 formulation in H2, the company added.