Eli Lilly's retatrutide shows strong weight loss but no clear heart risk reduction in Phase 3 trial

Eli Lilly released new data from a Phase 3 trial of retatrutide, its next‑generation obesity drug.

The study enrolled nearly 2,000 participants with severe obesity and existing heart disease, some of whom also had diabetes. After 80 weeks, the highest dose produced an average weight loss of 22.6% compared with 3.2% for placebo among participants who remained on treatment.

Secondary analyses of major cardiovascular events-death, heart attack, and stroke-did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction for retatrutide versus placebo.

These results leave uncertainty about the drug’s ability to lower cardiovascular risk, a key consideration for regulators and payers, even as its weight‑loss efficacy remains notable.