Indianapolis: Eli Lilly’s next-generation weight-loss candidate, retatrutide has demonstrated an average weight-loss of 28.3 per cent among obese patients in its pivotal phase-3 trial.

According to the topline results of TRIUMPH-1 study, after 80 weeks, the once-weekly drug highest strength — 12 mg – helped patients to shed 28.3 per ent (31.9 kg) of their body weight, followed by 25.9 per cent (29.2 kg) and 19 per cent (21.4 kg) with the 9 mg and 4 mg dose respectively.

In the trial involving 2,339 patients, with a BMI of or higher than 35, all doses of retatrutide met the primary and key secondary endpoints for delivering clinically meaningful weight loss.

On extending the therapy till 104 weeks, its weight-loss benefits on the 12 mg does further increase to 30.3 per cent (38.5 kg), 29.5 per cent (9 mg) and 27.9 per cent (4 mg).

Notably, this marks the highest level of weight loss demonstrated by any molecule, as earlier molecules such as semaglutide and tirzepatide have shown weight loss in the range of 15–20 per cent, varying across treatment duration.

However, among obese patients with type-2 diabetes, the drug had previously demonstrated (TRANSCEND-T2D-1) an average weight loss of 16.6 per cent (16.8 kg), while reducing blood sugar levels by 1.7–2 per cent at 40 weeks.

Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema 2.4 mg dose has reported an average weight-loss of 20.4 per cent at 68 weeks (REDEFINE 1) and 22.7 per cent when evaluating the treatment effect if all patients stayed on treatment.

Source: ET Pharma - May 22,2026