The success of Ozempic and Mounjaro has profoundly changed the management of obesity. But pharmaceutical research does not stop there: a new generation of treatments promises even greater results on the scale. Among the most anticipated molecules is retatrutide, an experimental drug developed by the American laboratory Eli Lilly, already behind Mounjaro. And its latest results are enough to attract attention: in a phase 3 clinical trial, participants lost on average up to 20.9% of their initial weight, compared to 9.4% with Ozempic.
Enough to fuel comparisons with the famous drug based on semaglutide. Some titles already mention an effectiveness three times greater than that of Ozempic. In reality, the comparative results published at the end of October 2026 show a weight loss a little more than twice as high under the precise conditions of this trial. So how does this new treatment work? Is it really more powerful than the drugs already available and when could it arrive in France? We take stock.
Retatrutide: what is this new drug that overshadows Ozempic?
Retatrutide is an injectable drug developed by the Eli Lilly laboratory, also known for marketing Mounjaro. Its particularity? It acts simultaneously on three hormonal receptors involved in the regulation of appetite, blood sugar and energy metabolism. It is thus nicknamed “Triple G”, in reference to the three targeted hormones: GLP-1, GIP and glucagon. For comparison, the semaglutide in Ozempic and Wegovy primarily acts on the GLP-1 receptor, while Mounjaro’s tirzepatide targets GLP-1 and GIP.
Concretely, retatrutide combines several mechanisms of action. Activation of the GLP-1 receptor helps reduce appetite and reinforce the feeling of satiety, while that of GIP is involved in regulating blood sugar levels. Finally, the action on the glucagon receptor could increase energy expenditure and modify fat metabolism. This triple action explains why researchers are so interested in this molecule: it could act both on food intake and on the body’s energy mechanisms.
More than twice as much weight lost as with Ozempic: what do the studies say?
The most commented results were revealed on October 28, 2026 by Eli Lilly. They come from the phase 3 TRANSCEND-T2D-2 clinical trial, which directly compared retatrutide to Ozempic in 1,298 adults with type 2 diabetes. For 80 weeks, participants received a weekly injection of retatrutide at different doses (9 or 12 mg) or Ozempic at 2 mg, the maximum dose approved in the United States for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Result: People who received the highest dose of retatrutide lost an average of 20.9% of their initial weight, compared to 9.4% in the Ozempic group. With the 9 mg dose, the average weight loss already reached 19.5%. The laboratory also reports a better reduction in glycated hemoglobin, an indicator of blood sugar control.
These figures are particularly impressive, but they must be interpreted with precision. They correspond to a trial carried out in people with type 2 diabetes and do not allow us to conclude that retatrutide will systematically be two or three times more effective than Ozempic in all people wishing to lose weight. Furthermore, this is a comparison with Ozempic 2 mg, and not with Wegovy, which also contains semaglutide but has a specific indication in weight management and a different dosage. The results are therefore not directly transposable to all situations.
Another phase 3 trial, called TRIUMPH-1 and published on September 29, 2026, provides additional information. Conducted on 2,339 adults with obesity or overweight associated with at least one complication, without diabetes, it evaluated retatrutide over a period of 80 weeks. The average weight loss reached 17.6% with the 4 mg dose, 23.7% with 9 mg and 25% with 12 mg, compared to 3.9% with the placebo. Results which confirm the potential of this molecule, even if the figures from this trial should not be directly compared to those of the Ozempic study, since the populations and protocols were different.
Does retatrutide have side effects?
Like other drugs in this family, retatrutide is not without side effects. Digestive disorders are among the most frequently reported reactions during clinical trials: nausea, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. In the comparative study with Ozempic, diarrhea notably concerned 32.7% of participants taking retatrutide at 12 mg, compared to 26.4% in the Ozempic group. Nausea was reported in 23.8% of participants taking retatrutide at this dose, compared to 21.3% with Ozempic.
Another effect deserves special attention: dysesthesia, which refers to an abnormal sensation of the skin which can manifest itself as tingling, burning or unusual sensitivity. It was reported more in participants treated with retatrutide than in those receiving Ozempic. Finally, treatment interruptions linked to adverse effects were more frequent with the new drug: 7.9% with the 12 mg dose, compared to 2.7% with Ozempic. These data remind us that greater weight loss does not necessarily mean better tolerated treatment. Long-term safety also remains a major issue, despite encouraging results from phase 3 trials.
When will retatrutide be available in France?
This is obviously the question that many people interested in new treatments for obesity are already asking themselves. For the moment, however, we will have to be patient: as of November 2, 2026, retatrutide is not authorized for marketing in any country. It remains an experimental drug, even if several phase 3 clinical trials have already delivered positive results. Eli Lilly plans to submit an application for authorization to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the US drug agency, in early 2027. This will be an important step, but it does not mean that the treatment will be immediately available to patients.
To be marketed in France, retatrutide will also have to follow the European authorization procedure with the competent authorities, in particular the European Medicines Agency (EMA). No French availability date is currently confirmed. In the meantime, it is important to be wary of offers of retatrutide offered on the Internet, sometimes presented as products intended for research. These substances are not authorized medicines, their composition and quality are not guaranteed and their use may present risks. The FDA has also explicitly warned against their illegal marketing.
Rétatrutide: the 5 most asked questions
Is retatrutide more effective than Ozempic?
In a phase 3 comparative clinical trial in adults with type 2 diabetes, retatrutide 12 mg provided an average weight loss of 20.9%, compared to 9.4% with Ozempic 2 mg after 80 weeks. This is more than double, but does not mean that the drug will be three times more effective in all situations.
What is the difference between retatrutide and Mounjaro?
Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which acts on two hormone receptors: GLP-1 and GIP. Retatrutide targets three receptors, adding that of glucagon. This additional action could contribute to its particularly important results on weight loss and energy metabolism.
How many pounds can you lose with retatrutide?
In the TRIUMPH-1 trial, participants who received the 12 mg dose lost an average of 25% of their initial weight after 80 weeks, according to the analysis published in the. Weight loss, however, varies between individuals, doses and participant characteristics.
Will retatrutide be available in France in 2027?
It’s possible, but no French marketing in 2027 is confirmed. Eli Lilly plans to submit a request for American authorization at the beginning of 2027. A European regulatory procedure will also be necessary before any marketing in France.
Can you buy retatrutide now?
No. Retatrutide is not currently authorized for sale in any country. Products offered on the Internet, particularly in the form of peptides or powders intended for research, are not approved medicines and may present health risks.
