New weight loss drug retatrutide provides double the weight loss of Ozempic, Lilly says

Eli Lilly’s next generation weight loss drug, known as retatrutide, was shown to provide more than double the weight loss of Ozempic’s highest dose, according to new clinical trial results shared Wednesday. 

In the phase 3 clinical trial of more than 1,000 adults with type 2 diabetes, those taking retatrutide lost an average of 44.3 lbs on the 9mg dose and 47.4 lbs on the 12mg dose compared to 20.9 lbs on the highest Ozempic 2mg dose over 80 weeks.

Retatrutide was also shown to provide better heart benefits, including for cholesterol and blood pressure. 

The drug also helped lower A1C, a marker of diabetes risk, by 2.2% compared to 1.8% with Ozempic. 

Retatrutide, a once weekly injection, mimics three hunger-regulating hormones: GLP-1, GIP and glucagon.

Other weight loss drugs currently on the market mimic just one or two hunger-regulating hormones.

Ozempic and Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk, mimic the effects of GLP-1, a type of hormone in the body that impacts everything from the brain to muscle to the pancreas, stomach and liver, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Mounjaro and Zepbound, also made by Eli Lilly, mimic the effects of GLP-1 as well as GIP, a type of hormone that helps regulate blood sugar by stimulating insulin.

The third hormone that retatrutide mimics, glucagon, is a hormone that promotes fat burning, even at rest.

Eli Lilly said it plans to submit retatrutide for approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in early 2027. 

Novo Nordisk also has an experimental drug, known as CagriSema, which expects FDA approval by the end of the year.

Neither CagriSema nor Retatrutide are FDA approved yet.

Any version consumers have seen online are from the black market and should not be consumed, according to the FDA. 

Both Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved by the FDA to treat Type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy and Zepbound are approved by the FDA to treat people with overweight and obesity.

As with any prescription medication, individuals should speak with a health care provider about whether any of these medications may help them.