VK2735 vs Wegovy: Investigational Contender vs Proven Semaglutide

VK2735 and Wegovy sit at different stages of development. VK2735, an investigational drug from Viking Therapeutics, comes in both injectable and oral forms and has shown encouraging early results (up to about 14.7% weight loss in a short 13-week study), but it isn’t approved or available. Wegovy (semaglutide) is FDA-approved, produced roughly 15% weight loss over a much longer trial, and can be prescribed today, including through TrimRx. Here’s how they compare and why one is a real option right now.

What Each Drug Is

VK2735 is a dual agonist of the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, the same two targets as tirzepatide. Viking is developing it in two forms: a weekly injection and a daily oral tablet. That dual-format approach is part of its appeal, but it’s still working through late-stage testing.

Wegovy is semaglutide, a single-target GLP-1 agonist given as a weekly injection. It has years of completed trials behind it and an established place in obesity treatment.

How They Compare on Results

The trial designs matter here. In the VENTURE-Oral trial published in Obesity in 2026, oral VK2735 produced up to about 12% weight loss, while the injectable version reached roughly 14.7% in a separate 13-week study. Wegovy produced around 15% in STEP 1. The catch is that VK2735’s numbers come from short trials (about 13 weeks), whereas Wegovy’s 15% reflects 68 weeks of treatment. Short-term weight loss usually continues climbing with more time, so VK2735’s early figures aren’t directly comparable to Wegovy’s longer-term result.

Why One Is Available and One Isn’t

VK2735 is still in its phase 3 VANQUISH program for the injectable version, with completion expected around 2027, and the oral version is a step behind. It’s a promising drug, but it can’t be prescribed, and its early results, while encouraging, come from small, short studies that could look different after larger trials.

Wegovy is here now. TrimRx prescribes semaglutide in compounded and brand-name forms, along with tirzepatide, after a provider review.

Consider a hypothetical patient drawn to the idea of an oral VK2735 tablet. Since it isn’t available and won’t be for some time, the realistic path is to start an approved option now, whether that’s semaglutide or tirzepatide, and reassess when VK2735 eventually launches. You can see what fits through the TrimRx quiz.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is VK2735 available yet?

No. VK2735 is investigational, with its injectable version in phase 3 trials expected to finish around 2027 and the oral version behind that. It cannot be prescribed today.

Is VK2735 better than Wegovy?

VK2735’s early results are encouraging, but they come from short trials that can’t be compared directly with Wegovy’s longer studies. Wegovy has completed, large-scale trials and is available now, while VK2735 is not.

What can I use instead while I wait?

Semaglutide (the drug in Wegovy) and tirzepatide are FDA-approved and available through providers like TrimRx in compounded and brand-name forms.

To explore the options available to you now, you can take the TrimRx quiz for a licensed provider’s review.

This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. VK2735 is investigational and not FDA-approved or available. Early trial figures are preliminary and come from short studies. Consult a qualified healthcare provider. Individual results vary.