Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 7
Retatrutide Cuts HbA1c by 1.9 Points and Weight by 15.3% in Phase 3 Diabetes Trial
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 7

Retatrutide Cuts HbA1c by 1.9 Points and Weight by 15.3% in Phase 3 Diabetes Trial

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 7

Summary

  • 930 adults with type 2 diabetes given weekly retatrutide for 40 weeks saw HbA1c fall 1.7-1.9 percentage points and body weight drop 11.5%-15.3%, versus 0.8 points and 2.6% on placebo.
  • The drug combines GLP-1, GIP and glucagon activity, adding an energy-expenditure pathway to appetite and blood-sugar control used by current GLP-1 and dual-action rivals.
  • Cholesterol and blood pressure also improved, while 14 serious adverse events were recorded—including two on placebo—and most side effects were mild to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms that eased over time.
  • Experts called the results encouraging and potentially important for patients needing more intensive diabetes treatment, but said head-to-head trials and longer-term data are still needed before judging it against semaglutide or tirzepatide.

Insights

Retatrutide shows no weight loss plateau. Have we finally found a way to medically override the body's set point?
What are the hidden risks of manipulating three core metabolic hormones for long-term weight management?
As miracle weight-loss drugs arrive, are we creating a new class of health inequality?