Retatrutide Weight Loss Results Rival Surgery in New Late-Stage Trial

Eli Lilly has unveiled groundbreaking results from a late-stage clinical trial for its experimental drug, retatrutide, positioning it as a potentially dominant force in the treatment of obesity and related physical complications.

In the Phase 3 TRIUMPH-4 study, the drug demonstrated unprecedented efficacy. Participants taking the highest dose who completed the treatment regimen lost an average of 28.7% of their body weight, equating to approximately 71.2 pounds over 68 weeks. Even when accounting for patients who discontinued the drug, the average weight loss was 23.7%.

Dubbed the "triple G" drug, retatrutide works by mimicking three distinct hunger-regulating hormones: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. This differs from existing treatments like Ozempic or Wegovy, which mimic only one, and Lilly’s own Zepbound, which mimics two. "Now, we have a drug that rivals the weight loss benefits of surgery," noted Dr. Caroline Apovian of Brigham and Women's Hospital.

The trial specifically targeted patients with obesity and knee osteoarthritis (OA). Beyond shedding pounds, the drug delivered substantial relief for joint ailments. Patients reported a reduction in knee pain by up to 75.8% based on standardized pain scores. Remarkably, more than one in eight patients treated with the drug were completely free of knee pain by the end of the trial.

Kenneth Custer, president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, stated that the drug could become a critical option for patients facing "pain and restricted mobility" who might otherwise require joint replacement.

The results were not without complications. Adverse events were primarily gastrointestinal, including nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Additionally, over 20% of patients on the highest dose experienced dysesthesia, a skin sensitivity sensation, though the company described these cases as generally mild.

Eli Lilly expects to complete seven additional Phase 3 trials by 2026 before seeking regulatory approval. As the company races to maintain its market lead over competitor Novo Nordisk, analysts estimate the weight loss drug sector could be worth $100 billion by the 2030s.

---

🔖 Sources

Eli Lilly’s next-generation obesity drug delivers strong weight loss, reduces knee pain in late-stage trial  

Retatrutide Achieves Up to 28.7% Weight Loss and Marked Knee Pain Reduction in Phase 3 TRIUMPH-4 Trial

Lilly's triple agonist, retatrutide, delivered weight loss of up to an average of 71.2 lbs along with substantial relief from osteoarthritis pain in first successful Phase 3 trial

---

Keywords: Retatrutide Weight Loss Results

Retatrutide Weight Loss Results

---