Eli Lilly's Retatrutide More Than Doubles Ozempic's Weight Loss in Phase 3 Trial

Eli Lilly announced Phase 3 trial results showing that retatrutide, its next-generation weekly injection for obesity and type 2 diabetes, vastly outperformed Novo Nordisk's Ozempic over 80 weeks. In a study of more than 1,000 adults with type 2 diabetes, participants on the 9 mg retatrutide dose lost an average of 44.3 pounds and those on the 12 mg dose lost 47.4 pounds, compared with just 20.9 pounds on Ozempic's highest 2 mg dose — more than double the weight loss. Unlike Ozempic, which targets only the GLP-1 hormone, retatrutide mimics three hunger-regulating hormones: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon; the glucagon component specifically promotes fat-burning even at rest. Beyond weight loss, retatrutide reduced the blood-sugar marker A1C by 2.2% versus 1.8% with Ozempic, and delivered better cholesterol and blood-pressure outcomes. Eli Lilly said it plans to file for FDA approval in early 2027. Novo Nordisk is also pursuing its own experimental drug, CagriSema, which the company expects to receive FDA approval by the end of the year. Neither drug is FDA-approved yet, and the FDA has warned that any versions available online come from the black market and should not be used. Anyone considering these medications should speak with a healthcare provider.