Lilly says retatrutide delivers more weight loss than Ozempic in trial

Eli Lilly’s experimental retatrutide produced more than twice the average weight loss seen with the highest dose of Ozempic in a trial of adults with type 2 diabetes, according to company results reported Wednesday by ABC7 Los Angeles.

The findings compare an experimental treatment with an approved diabetes drug, but retatrutide has not received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. Lilly plans to seek approval in early 2027, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

The phase three trial enrolled more than 1,000 adults with type 2 diabetes. According to ABC7 Los Angeles, researchers compared retatrutide doses of 9 milligrams and 12 milligrams with Ozempic’s highest dose, 2 milligrams.

Over 80 weeks, participants receiving the 9-milligram retatrutide dose lost an average of 44.3 pounds, according to the results Lilly shared. Average weight loss was 47.4 pounds at 12 milligrams, versus 20.9 pounds for those receiving Ozempic.

ABC7 Los Angeles also reported greater improvements in cholesterol and blood pressure with retatrutide. The reported A1C reduction was 2.2% for retatrutide, compared with 1.8% for Ozempic.

Retatrutide is injected once a week and mimics three hormones: GLP-1, GIP and glucagon. Currently marketed drugs mimic one or two hunger-regulating hormones, according to the report.

The approved uses of existing drugs differ. ABC7 Los Angeles reported that Ozempic and Mounjaro have FDA approval for type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy and Zepbound are approved for people with overweight and obesity.

Retatrutide and Novo Nordisk’s experimental CagriSema remained unapproved at the time of the report. According to ABC7 Los Angeles’ account of FDA guidance, products sold online as either drug come from the black market and should not be consumed.