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Retatrutide: New Injectable Weight Loss Medications Changing and Impacting Traditional Dieting
What is Retatrutide?
Retatrutide is a new weight loss drug in clinical trials that is a triple-hormone receptor agonist. The three hormones retatrutide targets are glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and glucagon (GCG). These hormones affect eating and metabolism. It is a weekly injectable medication showing success in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. The doses range from 1 mg to 12 mg.
Clinical Trials
Retatrutide is being evaluated for its safety and effectiveness. In the phase two clinical trial, participants lost 24.2% of their bodyweight over 11 months. The body weight lost on average was 58 pounds. The FDA considers anything greater or equal to losing 5% of their body weight clinically significant.
Participants whose BMIs are greater than or equal to 35 showed more weight loss than individuals with a lower BMI. Women showed a greater percent of body weight lost than men. The most frequent reported side effects were gastrointestinal. From the phase 2 results, the drug can move into phase 3 trials.
Obesity
Obesity is a prevalent concern in the United States affecting almost half of Americans. The prevalence of obesity is vastly increasing. It can result from environmental and genetic factors. Obesity can lead to several other chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancers. Weight gain can lead to hormonal, metabolic, and molecular changes which cause a greater risk of weight gain. These changes in the body result in progressive weight gain making it harder to lose weight.
Retatrutide is an agonist for three hormones that effect eating and metabolism. This can target the mechanism of the disease and prevent it from progressing. By using a drug such as retatrutide, eating and habits can better be controlled leading to weight loss. This, in turn, helps chronic diseases associated with obesity such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancers.
Summary:
- Retatrutide Overview:
- New weight loss drug in clinical trials
- Triple-hormone receptor agonist targeting GIP, GLP-1, and GCG
- Weekly injectable medication
- Shows promise in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes
- Doses range from 1 mg to 12 mg
- Clinical Trials:
- Phase two trial underway for safety and effectiveness evaluation
- Participants lost 24.2% of body weight over 11 months
- Average weight loss of 58 pounds
- Considered clinically significant by FDA (5% body weight loss)
- Greater weight loss in participants with BMI ≥ 35
- Women showed greater weight loss than men
- Most common side effects were gastrointestinal
- Phase 2 results support progression to phase 3 trials
- Obesity Overview:
- Prevalent concern in the United States, affecting nearly half of Americans
- Increasing prevalence influenced by environmental and genetic factors
- Associated with chronic diseases: type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancers
- Weight gain leads to hormonal, metabolic, and molecular changes
- Retatrutide targets mechanisms of obesity by acting on hormones
- Potential to control eating habits and promote weight loss
- Addressing obesity may help prevent or manage associated chronic diseases
This article reviewed by Dr. Jim Liu, MD and Ms. Deb Dooley, APRN.
There’s nothing more important than our good health – that’s our principal capital asset.
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