8 potential retatrutide benefits, according to clinical trials

Retatrutide is an injectable medication currently being developed by Eli Lilly. Clinical trials have shown that retatrutide can lead to weight loss and improve blood sugar control. Meanwhile, ongoing studies are investigating other possible benefits, including reduced chronic low back pain and cardiovascular risk. Keep in mind, though, that the drug is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any of these benefits.

Retatrutide works by mimicking three hormones in the body: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon. This triple-agonist ability is what sets retatrutide apart from the GLP-1 medications currently available. For example, semaglutide drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy) only mimic GLP-1, while tirzepatide drugs (Zepbound, Mounjaro) just mimic GLP-1 and GIP.

Below, we’ll take a look at each of the possible benefits of retatrutide in more detail, including their current state of research and what we can expect next.

Several clinical studies have explored the benefits of the retatrutide peptide on weight loss and weight maintenance in people with obesity or overweight. 

One phase 2 trial of retatrutide’s benefits for weight loss found that retatrutide led to an:

• Average weight loss of 7.2%–17.5%, depending on the dose, in 24 weeks (six months) 

• Average weight loss of 8.7%–24.2%, depending on the dose, in 48 weeks (11 months)

For comparison, participants taking a placebo saw only 1.6% weight loss and 2.1% weight loss in the respective timeframes. And those taking retatrutide also saw improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. 

A longer phase 3 clinical trial found that retatrutide produced an:

• Average weight loss of 19%–28.3% in 80 weeks (a year and a half)

• Average weight loss of 27.9%--30.3% among participants with a starting body mass index (BMI) of 35 who stayed in the study for two years

They also experienced improvements in their cholesterol, blood pressure, and waist circumference.

Eli Lilly is still studying retatrutide’s benefits for weight loss in additional clinical trials of people with obesity or overweight. The weight loss peptide has also been studied in people with obesity or overweight who have conditions such as :

• Type 2 diabetes 

• Heart disease

• Knee osteoarthritis 

Plus, there’s an ongoing clinical trial looking at retatrutide vs. tirzepatide. Currently, tirzepatide is considered the most effective GLP-1 for weight loss, with one analysis showing an average weight loss of up to 22.5% over 72 weeks (less than a year and a half). 

Several Phase 3 retatrutide trials have now reported results, while other studies are still underway. Other retatrutide studies are expected to finish between late 2026 and the early 2030s.

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Retatrutide benefits for type 2 diabetes have also been studied. These trials look at how well retatrutide lowers HbA1c levels, sometimes alongside other diabetes treatments and in combination with diet and exercise. They also observe the benefits of retatrutide on other diabetes-related health markers, such as weight loss, cholesterol, and blood pressure.

A phase 3 trial reported the following benefits of retatrutide for people with type 2 diabetes:

• An average 2% reduction of HbA1c levels

• An average weight loss of up to 36.6 pounds (nearly 17% of participants’ body weight), depending on the dose

• Significant improvements in cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure

Eli Lilly is conducting two more clinical trials of retatrutide for type 2 diabetes:

• TRANSCEND-T2D-2: This trial is studying the benefits of retatrutide vs. semaglutide in people who have type 2 diabetes. Participants may also be taking metformin with or without an SGLT2 inhibitor like Jardiance (empagliflozin). It’s expected to wrap up by January 2027.

• TRANSCEND-T2D-3: This trial is studying the benefits of retatrutide for people who have both type 2 diabetes and kidney problems. They may also be taking insulin, metformin, or SGLT2 inhibitors. It should be complete by November 2026.

At the end of 2025, Eli Lilly announced the results from a clinical trial investigating retatrutide’s benefits for knee osteoarthritis pain in people with obesity. 

Over the course of 68 weeks (about a year and four months), participants in this study experienced significant:

• Pain relief: Retatrutide reduced knee osteoarthritis pain by nearly twice as much as placebo. By the end of the study, as many as 14% of participants said their knee pain went away completely — three times as many as those taking a placebo. Their physical function also improved significantly.

• Weight loss: Excess body weight can contribute to and worsen joint pain. Participants taking retatrutide lost an average of 64–71 pounds, or 26%–29% of their body weight. By comparison, those taking a placebo lost about 5 pounds, or 2% of their body weight.

• Other health improvements: Taking retatrutide also reduced participants’ cholesterol, triglyceride, and inflammation levels — all of which are known risk factors for heart disease.

Eli Lilly is currently studying the benefits of retatrutide for other weight-related medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, chronic low back pain, kidney problems, and heart disease. 

Speaking of heart disease, a clinical trial is currently underway to see how, if at all, retatrutide can reduce the chance of heart attack, stroke, or death in people who have obesity or overweight and:

• Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (a type of heart disease where the arteries become clogged from fatty deposits called plaque)

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

• Both atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and CKD

The trial is expected to last about five years and finish in early 2029.

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Early research suggests retatrutide may improve some measures of kidney health, but it’s not yet known whether it can prevent or treat chronic kidney disease (CKD).

In an analysis of two phase 2 trials, higher doses of retatrutide reduced albumin in the urine, which can be a sign of kidney damage. Some measures of kidney function also improved in people with overweight or obesity who did not have type 2 diabetes, but not in those with type 2 diabetes.

Larger studies are now looking at whether retatrutide can help slow worsening kidney disease and reduce serious kidney-related complications.

In June 2026, Eli Lilly announced additional results from the TRIUMPH-1 phase 3 clinical trial, which evaluated the effects of retatrutide on people with obesity or overweight and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The trial lasted 80 weeks (a little over a year and a half). Participants who took retatrutide experienced the following benefits:

• Up to 60.6% reduction in their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), a common measure for sleep apnea severity

• Average weight loss of 19%–25.9% (weight loss is often recommended to reduce the severity of OSA)

As of publication, Eli Lilly is conducting a  trial of retatrutide for chronic low back pain. Since the drug is still under development, participating in clinical trials like these is currently the only way to get retatrutide. (That is, if you’re even given retatrutide and not a placebo.)

The trial will last about 80 weeks and is expected to finish by September 2027. It will explore whether retatrutide can relieve chronic low back pain in people with obesity or overweight. 

Early research suggests retatrutide may help reduce liver fat in people with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a condition where excess fat builds up in the liver.

In a phase 2a study, retatrutide reduced liver fat by about 43%–82% after 24 weeks, depending on the dose. At the higher doses, up to 86% of participants had liver fat levels fall below 5%. Participants also lost weight and belly fat.

A larger phase 3 trial is now studying whether retatrutide can help prevent serious liver-related complications in people with high-risk MASLD. The study is expected to continue through 2032.

Start your journey

Based on the current clinical trial results, retatrutide may have many health benefits. But retatrutide is currently not approved or available by prescription. (Eli Lilly currently plans to submit it to the FDA for review in the first quarter of 2027). In the meantime, here’s what you need to know:

• Completed phase 3 clinical trials suggest retatrutide may help treat obesity, type 2 diabetes, knee osteoarthritis pain, and obstructive sleep apnea.

• Clinical trials are ongoing for retatrutide’s possible benefits in liver-related complications in people with MASLD, a type of liver disease.

• As of publication, Eli Lilly has not submitted retatrutide for FDA approval for any of the studied conditions.

• The completion date for these clinical trials ranges from late 2026 to 2032.