New Experimental Drug Shows Double the Weight Loss of Ozempic in Trial

Eli Lilly’s experimental obesity and diabetes drug, retatrutide, has demonstrated a significantly greater weight loss effect compared to Ozempic in a head-to-head clinical trial. Newly released data indicates that retatrutide helped patients shed more than twice the amount of weight achieved with Ozempic’s highest approved dosage, while also proving more effective at lowering blood sugar levels.

These findings position retatrutide as a strong contender in the expanding market for obesity and diabetes treatments. Dr. Kenneth Custer, Eli Lilly’s executive vice president, highlighted the importance of head-to-head trials in informing physicians and patients about a potential new medicine's performance relative to existing treatments.

Retatrutide, nicknamed “Triple G” due to its targeting of three key hormones – GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon – represents an advancement over Lilly’s existing popular drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound, which mimic GLP-1 and GIP.

The recent trial involved nearly 1,300 adults with type 2 diabetes. After 80 weeks, participants receiving either the 9-milligram or 12-milligram weekly dose of retatrutide experienced an average A1C reduction of 2.2 percentage points. In comparison, those on the 2-milligram weekly dose of Ozempic (the highest approved dose for type 2 diabetes) saw an average A1C reduction of 1.8 percentage points.

The weight loss results were even more pronounced. Patients on the 9-milligram retatrutide dose lost an average of 44.3 pounds (19.5% of body weight), while those on the 12-milligram dose lost an average of 47.4 pounds (20.9% of body weight). The Ozempic group lost an average of 20.9 pounds (9.4% of body weight).

Furthermore, retatrutide showed superiority over Ozempic in improving several cardiovascular risk factors, including non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure. The most common side effects for retatrutide, similar to other GLP-1 family drugs, were gastrointestinal issues. Diarrhea was slightly more prevalent among retatrutide users, while constipation was more common with Ozempic. Some retatrutide users also reported higher rates of dysesthesia, an unusual sensory disturbance.

While most adverse events were mild to moderate, discontinuation rates were higher for retatrutide. Approximately 4.8% of participants on the 9-milligram dose and 7.9% on the 12-milligram dose discontinued the trial, compared to 2.7% for Ozempic.

Previous studies have indicated retatrutide's substantial efficacy, with one trial showing participants on the highest 12-milligram dose losing an average of 71.2 pounds (28.7% of body weight) over 68 weeks. Another study suggested significant weight loss even at a lower 4-milligram dose, with participants losing an average of 29.8 pounds (12.7% of body weight) over 80 weeks.

Eli Lilly plans to submit retatrutide to the Food and Drug Administration for approval early next year. However, unapproved versions of the drug have appeared on the gray market, prompting warnings from Lilly and the FDA regarding potential health risks. The FDA has received reports of at least two deaths linked to products claiming to contain retatrutide, with complications including cardiac arrest, severe dehydration, and malnutrition.