New obesity drug retatrutide shows significant weight loss in clinical trial

Researchers have published late-stage clinical trial data for retatrutide, a new drug targeting obesity. The study found that patients receiving the highest dose of retatrutide lost an average of 25 percent of their body weight after 80 weeks. Following an extended period of 104 weeks, the average weight loss reached 30 percent.

The trial indicated that over a third of participants treated with retatrutide achieved a weight loss of 30 percent or more. Beyond weight reduction, the drug also demonstrated positive effects on other obesity-related health conditions. It reduced knee pain by up to 62 percent in a subset of participants with knee osteoarthritis and decreased obstructive sleep apnea events by up to 57 percent.

The trial, which began in 2023, involved 2,339 participants across 131 clinical sites in 11 countries. Participants were randomized to receive either 4 mg, 9 mg, 12 mg of retatrutide, or a placebo. The average starting weight for participants was approximately 113 kg, with an average BMI of 40. The drug also showed improvements in cardiovascular and metabolic markers, including blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study noted that over 90 percent of participants initially diagnosed with prediabetes saw their condition resolve during treatment.