New weekly diabetes injection shows strong results in clinical trial

A new once-weekly diabetes medication, retatrutide, has demonstrated significant improvements in blood sugar control and weight loss among adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a Phase 3 clinical trial published in The Lancet.

The study involved 930 adults with type 2 diabetes who received either varying doses of retatrutide or a placebo over a 40-week period. Researchers found that the drug substantially lowered long-term blood glucose levels while also producing considerable weight loss.

Participants treated with retatrutide lost an average of 11.5% to 15.3% of their body weight, compared with only 2.6% among those who received the placebo. These results suggest the drug could become a promising new option alongside current treatments such as Ozempic and Mounjaro.

Retatrutide works differently from existing diabetes medications because it targets three hormone pathways involved in appetite regulation, metabolism, and blood sugar management. It mimics the effects of GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon, a combination researchers believe contributes to its powerful impact on both weight reduction and glucose control.

In addition to lowering blood sugar and body weight, the medication was associated with improvements in cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

Although 14 participants experienced serious adverse events during the trial, researchers reported that most side effects were mild to moderate and tended to improve over time. The most common issues involved gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and digestive discomfort.

The study authors believe retatrutide could provide important benefits for people requiring more intensive treatment for type 2 diabetes and obesity, though additional research is still underway.

The findings build on earlier studies from the drug’s manufacturer, Eli Lilly, which indicated that retatrutide was highly effective for weight loss in people with obesity, reports Gulf News.

Medical experts have responded positively but remain cautious. Dr Kath McCullough described the results as encouraging and noted that such treatments could greatly improve the lives of people living with obesity and diabetes.

However, she emphasized that prevention of obesity and type 2 diabetes should remain a priority and that medication alone is not a complete solution.

Other experts highlighted the need for direct comparisons with current treatments such as Semaglutide and Tirzepatide. Dr Marie Spreckley noted that while the level of weight loss was impressive, it remains unclear whether retatrutide performs better, similarly, or worse than existing medications because no head-to-head trials have yet been conducted.

Meanwhile, Diabetes UK welcomed the results, saying the drug appears capable of delivering both meaningful weight loss and improved blood sugar control, while calling for further studies to assess its long-term safety and effectiveness, reports UNB.