Scientists announced the results of the second phase of trials of a new drug (from Eli Lilly Company) against obesity. The results were announced in The New England Journal of Medicine. What is worth knowing about it?
What is retatrutide?
Retatrutide is an agonist of the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, glucagon-like peptide 1, and glucagon receptors. Current research is aimed at understanding the body’s response to its use.
About the study
The study involved 338 people for 24 weeks and various doses of LY3437943 retatrutide (placebo, 1 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg and 12 mg). The study was double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled. It was funded by Eli Lilly. Participants were overweight or obese but without diabetes. The main side effects from gastrointestinal tract were associated with increasing the dose. They were mild to moderate in severity. They were lower after lowering the starting dose. There was also a temporary increase in heart rate that peaked after 24 weeks, but declined thereafter.
The average weight reduction of the subjects at the highest dose was as much as 17.5% (18.7 kilograms) after 24 weeks.
After 48 weeks of treatment (the highest dose of the drug), a 24.2% reduction in body weight (26.2 kilograms) was demonstrated.
Interestingly, this period did not exhaust the effect of the drug, so it can be assumed that the benefits of continued use would also be visible.
Weight loss — other benefits
As can be expected, such a significant reduction in body weight in overweight and obese people also resulted in an improvement in blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose parameters. We will keep you updated on further progress.
Please note: this article is for informational purposes only for dietitians. It is not intended as medical advice or treatment suggestion.
Based on:
Jastreboff, A. M., Kaplan, L. M., Frías, J. P., Wu, Q., Du, Y., Gurbuz, S., … & Hartman, M. L. (2023). Triple–Hormone-Receptor Agonist Retatrutide for Obesity—A Phase 2 Trial. New England Journal of Medicine.