Washington (Probes Pakistan) - According to late-stage clinical trial results released on Wednesday, October 28, Eli Lilly's experimental next-generation weight loss drug, retatrutide, has demonstrated significant success in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. In a phase 3 trial involving over 1,000 adults, participants taking a 9mg dose lost an average of 44.3 pounds, while those on a 12mg dose lost 47.4 pounds.
In comparison, the widely used drug Ozempic, at its highest approved 2mg dose, resulted in an average weight loss of 20.9 pounds over 80 weeks. The findings indicate that retatrutide is more than twice as effective as existing treatments.
Beyond weight loss, the drug improved A1C levels (a marker for long-term blood sugar) by an average of 2.2%, compared to 1.8% for Ozempic. Eli Lilly also noted improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, including cholesterol and blood pressure.
The once-weekly injection mimics three hunger-regulating hormones: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon, earning it the nickname "triple-G." While existing drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy target only GLP-1, and Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound target GLP-1 and GIP, the addition of glucagon promotes fat burning even at rest.
Kenneth Custer, president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, stated that if approved, the drug could shift the treatment paradigm for metabolic conditions. Eli Lilly plans to submit the drug for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in early 2027.