Trial of next-gen weight-loss drug retatrutide shows users lose almost a third of their body weight

A weekly injection of retatrutide produced about 30% average body-weight loss over 80 weeks in phase III clinical trial results. The outcome is described as comparable to bariatric surgery. Retatrutide belongs to a newer class of GLP-1–based drugs that targets three hormone receptors involved in appetite regulation: GLP-1, glucagon, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). Other approved GLP-1 medications target fewer receptors, such as semaglutide targeting only GLP-1 and tirzepatide targeting GLP-1 and GIP. Targeting multiple receptors is associated with greater weight-loss effects in clinical comparisons. Phase III trials are presented as the standard required for eventual FDA approval.

"The next generation of GLP-1 weight loss drugs has taken another step forward to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. In new clinical trial results from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, a weekly injection of retatrutide for 80 weeks helped people lose about 30 percent of their body weightabout 85 pounds on averageaccording to a statement from the company. That puts retatrutide essentially on a par with bariatric surgery, says Daniel Drucker, a university professor of medicine at the University of Toronto, who has previously consulted for Eli Lilly but was not involved in the trial."

"Unlike other approved GLP-1 medications, Wegovy and Zepbound, which also target the gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), retatrutide targets three receptors known to regulate appetiteGLP-1, glucagon, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). Targeting more than one receptor seems to boost the medications' weight-loss effects. Tirzepatide, for example, which is sold under the brand name Zepbound, targets two receptors, and clinical trials suggest it helps people lose more weight than semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy), which only targets one."

"The study is a phase III clinical trialthe gold standard needed to secure eventual FDA approval. The particip"

Read at www.scientificamerican.com