Eli Lilly’s Retatrutide Delivers Bariatric-Style Weight Loss In Obesity Trial — Stock Rises Pre-Market

• All doses of retatrutide met the primary and secondary endpoints in TRIUMPH-1, demonstrating consistent weight reduction.
• Highest dose users lost over 28% of body weight on average, with over 45% achieving about 30% loss, levels usually seen after bariatric surgery.
• It also improved multiple cardiometabolic markers, including cholesterol, blood pressure, inflammation and waist size.

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) rose about 1% in pre-market trading on Thursday after the company reported positive topline results from its Phase 3 TRIUMPH-1 study. The trial evaluated retatrutide, an investigational triple-hormone therapy targeting GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon receptors. 

It was tested in adults with obesity or overweight who also had at least one weight-related health condition, but did not have diabetes.

Bariatric Surgery-Level Results At Higher Dose

At 80 weeks, all tested doses of retatrutide (4 mg, 9 mg and 12 mg) met the study’s primary and key secondary endpoints, showing strong and clinically meaningful weight loss.

Participants on the highest dose of 12 mg lost an average of 28.3% of their body weight.  More than 45% lost 30% or more of their body weight, a level usually associated with bariatric surgery. Those on the lowest dose still saw an average weight loss of 19%.

The drug also improved several cardiovascular risk markers, including waist size, cholesterol levels, triglycerides, blood pressure and inflammation levels.

Kenneth Custer, executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, said the results highlight a wide range of weight loss outcomes across doses. 

He noted that the 4 mg dose achieved “nearly 20% weight loss with one escalation step,” while the 12 mg dose “delivered a level of weight loss long associated with bariatric surgery.” He added that retatrutide could support a more patient-centric approach to treating obesity.

Some patients experienced side effects. About 11% of participants on the 12 mg dose dropped out of the trial. About 13% of patients on the highest dose reported dysesthesia, while over 8% had urinary tract infections.

The LLY Vs Novo Nordisk A/S Race

Lilly, the maker of Zepbound (tirzepatide) and orforglipron, is strengthening its obesity pipeline with retatrutide. The company sees the drug as a major driver in maintaining its lead in the fast-growing weight-loss market, amid competition with Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO).

Eli Lilly’s stock has risen over 35% in the past 12 months.

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