Eli Lilly to file FDA application for obesity drug retatrutide after Phase 3 trial results

Eli Lilly announced that two additional Phase 3 trials of its experimental obesity medicine retatrutide met their primary goals, and the company plans to submit an FDA application for the drug next year.

The trials, named Triumph-2 and Triumph-3, enrolled overweight or obese participants who also had type 2 diabetes or established cardiovascular disease. Participants receiving the highest dose lost an average of about 21% of body weight after 80 weeks in the diabetes cohort and about 23% in the cardiovascular cohort.

These weight‑loss figures are lower than the roughly 30% loss reported in the earlier Triumph-1 study, but analysts noted they are in line with expectations for patients with such comorbidities, who typically achieve less weight reduction.

Retatrutide is a “triple‑G” molecule that targets GLP‑1, GIP and glucagon receptors. While the data strengthen Lilly’s case for approval, questions remain about the drug’s additional cardiovascular benefits.