A new experimental shot from Eli Lilly may reset expectations for what a weight loss drug can do. In a large company-run trial, the injectable drug retatrutide helped people considered overweight or obese shed an average of 28% of their body weight over about a year and a half, with the heaviest patients losing roughly 30% over two years—results comparable to gastric bypass surgery, per the New York Times. Those figures outpace current blockbuster drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound, which typically see a more modest 12% to 20% weight loss. An "incredible number to see," Dan Skovronsky, Eli Lilly's chief scientific and product officer, tells CNBC.
The data, released by Eli Lilly in a news statement, haven't yet been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal. The gains came with trade-offs. Higher doses triggered significant gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, leading 11% of those on the top dose to quit the trial. Retatrutide targets three hormones involved in appetite and metabolism—earlier medications only went after two of them—but researchers still don't fully understand why that combination is so potent.
The drug hasn't been submitted for regulatory approval, yet interest is intense enough that Americans are already seeking unregulated versions online, worrying doctors. If approved, experts say it could be especially relevant for those with severe obesity who want to avoid surgery, though long-term health outcomes remain the key unknown.
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