ABC News: Weight-Loss Drug Tested in the US Delivers More Than Twice the Results of Ozempic
21:46 2 November, 2026US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly has developed an experimental weight-loss drug called retatrutide. In clinical trials, it led to more than twice as much weight loss as the maximum dose of Ozempic. The results of the Phase 3 trial were published by the company on October 28, ABC News reports.
The TRANSCEND-T2D-2 trial involved 1,298 adults with type 2 diabetes. Over a period of 80 weeks, participants received weekly injections of either retatrutide or Ozempic.
“At the 9 mg dose of retatrutide, participants lost an average of 20.1 kg, while those taking the 12 mg dose lost 21.5 kg. By comparison, the average weight loss among participants receiving the maximum Ozempic dose (2 mg) was 9.5 kg,” the publication reports.
Retatrutide was also more effective at reducing glycated hemoglobin, a measure of average blood sugar levels over several months. HbA1c levels fell by 2.2 percentage points, compared with 1.8 percentage points among those taking Ozempic.
Unlike Ozempic, which acts on a single hormonal receptor, GLP-1, retatrutide mimics the effects of three hormones: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. These hormones are involved in regulating appetite, blood sugar levels, and metabolism.
However, the drug has not yet been approved for medical use. Eli Lilly plans to submit an application for approval to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in early 2027.