Eli Lilly’s retatrutide yields 25% weight loss in trials

A new obesity drug from Eli Lilly has demonstrated significant weight loss and additional health benefits in late-stage clinical trials, according to data presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans. The experimental drug, retatrutide, also showed promise in treating obstructive sleep apnea and knee osteoarthritis pain.

Retatrutide is a once-weekly injectable medication that targets three hormone receptors: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. In the TRIUMPH-1 trial involving over 2,300 adults with overweight or obesity, participants receiving the highest dose lost an average of 25% of their body weight after 80 weeks, equating to roughly 70 pounds. In an extension of the trial, weight loss reached nearly 30% at 104 weeks for some participants. The trial's principal investigator, Dr. Ania M. Jastreboff, stated that the drug was generally well-tolerated and provided substantial weight reduction alongside clinically meaningful health improvements.

Two specific studies within the larger trial assessed the drug's impact on other conditions. Among 243 adults with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea, retatrutide reduced the severity of the condition by over...