Eli Lilly Releases Phase 3 Trial Results for Retatrutide
Eli Lilly’s experimental weekly injection retatrutide may help adults with Type 2 diabetes lose more weight and achieve a somewhat larger drop in blood sugar than Ozempic, according to results released Wednesday. The Phase 3 trial evaluated 1,298 adults whose blood sugar was not adequately controlled by metformin, comparing retatrutide against semaglutide, commonly known as Ozempic.
Weight Loss and Blood Sugar Results at 80 Weeks
Participants in the trial weighed about 226 pounds on average when the study began. After 80 weeks, those taking retatrutide lost an average of 44 pounds on the 9-milligram dose and 47 pounds on the 12-milligram dose, amounting to roughly 20% to 21% of their starting weight. By comparison, participants taking Ozempic’s 2-milligram dose lost an average of 21 pounds, or about 9% of their starting weight. Average blood sugar, measured by A1C, fell by 2.2 percentage points with retatrutide and 1.8 points with Ozempic.
Hormone Pathways and Side Effects in the Trial
Retatrutide targets three hormone pathways involved in appetite and blood sugar regulation, whereas Ozempic acts on just one, GLP-1. The study also reported greater improvements in cholesterol and blood pressure for participants taking retatrutide. However, the trial did not evaluate whether the drug reduces heart attacks or strokes, abc45.com reported. Nausea and diarrhea emerged as common side effects, and participants stopped treatment due to adverse effects at higher rates on the 12-milligram dose of retatrutide at 7.9% compared to 2.7% for Ozempic, while the 9-milligram dose showed a discontinuation rate of 4.8%.
Timeline for Future Approval and Online Warnings
The findings released Wednesday are preliminary company results. Eli Lilly stated that it plans to present the detailed data at a future medical meeting and publish the findings in a peer-reviewed journal. Retatrutide currently lacks Food and Drug Administration approval and is not available by prescription. The company plans to seek FDA approval in early 2027 and issued a warning to consumers against purchasing products sold online as retatrutide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Retatrutide
How does retatrutide differ from Ozempic in its mechanism?
Retatrutide acts on three hormone pathways involved in appetite and blood sugar, while Ozempic acts on a single hormone pathway, GLP-1.
What were the discontinuation rates due to side effects?
Participants stopped treatment because of side effects at a rate of 7.9% on the 12-milligram retatrutide dose and 4.8% on the 9-milligram dose, compared to 2.7% for Ozempic.
When does Eli Lilly plan to seek regulatory approval?
The company announced plans to seek FDA approval for retatrutide in early 2027.
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