We’re learning more about the super-effective “triple-G” weight loss drug retatrutide.
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We → learn → drug
The drug, the first of its kind to target three metabolic receptors (GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon), is nearing the end of clinical trials and is expected to be submitted to the FDA for approval early next year.
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drug → target → approval
New data on its effectiveness is likely to only throw fuel on the fire.
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data → throw → fire
Earlier this year, Eli Lilly reported the results of its Phase 3 “Triumph-4” trial, finding that patients lost an average of 28.7% of their body weight.
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patients → report → weight
In fact, there were higher dropout rates than in earlier trials — with at least some participants stopping because they lost too much weight.
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they → be → weight
They’ve now shared detailed data from a different Phase 3 trial, showing that even on the lowest administered dose, participants saw dramatic results.
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participants → share → results
Those who got a 4-mg injection once a week — the smallest they offered — lost an average of 29.8 pounds, or 12.7% of their body weight.
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they → get → weight
In contrast to GLP-1s like Ozempic, which only target GLP-1 receptors, or dual agonists like Mounjaro or Zepbound, which target GLP-1 and GIP or glucagon, retatrutide targets all three: GLP-1, GIP and glucagon.
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retatrutide → target → three
Lilly released data on three doses of retatrutide: 4 mg, 9 mg, and 12 mg.
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Lilly → release → retatrutide
After being on the drug for 80 weeks (a year and 8 months), participants on the lowest dose lost an average of 29.8 pounds (12.7% of their weight), the medium dose lost 45.4 pounds (19.1%), and the highest dose lost 49.6 pounds (20.8%), respectively.
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dose → lose → pounds
What’s more, the drug is also showing great success in lowering participants A1C, or blood sugar — a marker of diabetes.
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drug → ’ → diabetes
“The vast majority of people with type 2 diabetes are also living with obesity, and treating the two together has always been a challenge,” said Dr. Juan P. Frías, who led the research.
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who → live → research
“Retatrutide reduced both weight and blood sugar substantially, with more than half of participants no longer qualifying as having obesity and up to 40% reaching an A1C in the normal range.”
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% → reduce → range
On the lowest dose, A1C was lowered by an average of 1.4% and with each increase in dose, A1C was lowered .1% on average.
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A1C → lower → dose
The drug also helped with heart health.
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drug → help → health
The highest dose significantly lowered triglycerides, cholesterol, blood pressure (all associated with lower risk for heart disease and stroke), waist circumference (a predictor of heart disease risk), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (a marker of future heart risk).
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all → lower → risk
The biggest side effects Lilly noted are typical of GLP-1 drugs: gastrointestinal reactions like diarrhea (seen in 27.4% to 33.6% of participants), nausea, constipation, decreased appetite and vomiting, in order from most to least common.
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Lilly → note → common
In general, the side effects became more common at higher doses.
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effects → become → doses
Researchers also observed dyesthesia, a neurological condition that affects your sense of touch.
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that → observe → touch
It can feel painful or just strange — like burning, cold, pins-and-needles, itching, or wet.
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It → feel → burning
This happened in 4.5 to 7.3% of participants, with an increased incidence as dosing went up.
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dosing → happen → incidence
Some participants also got urinary tract infections (3.8 to 8%) with increased incidence as dosing went up.
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dosing → get → incidence
“These events were generally mild to moderate, and the majority resolved during treatment,” researchers said.
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researchers → resolve → treatment
The Aporia
