At the KAHN CENTER, we teach natural approaches to health including weight management. It is impossible to ignore the explosion of interest in the class of medications called GLP-1s like Wegovy and Zepbound.
There has been a buzz about a third GLP-1 agent, retatrutide, not yet released by the FDA but anticipated to be released in 2027. Retatrutide is a triple-receptor agonist of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, glucagon-like peptide-1, and glucagon receptors.
A new
research study was just published showing the massive benefits of this new injectable medication.
STUDY
In this phase 3, randomized, double-blind trial, we assigned adults with obesity without diabetes to receive a once-weekly subcutaneous injection of retatrutide (at a dose of 4 mg, 9 mg, or 12 mg) or placebo for 80 weeks.
Primary outcomes (evaluated in the 9-mg and 12-mg groups each vs. placebo) were the percent change in body weight and the change in the WOMAC pain score (ranging from 1 to 10, with higher scores indicating worse pain) in the subgroup of 574 participants with knee osteoarthritis and the change in the apnea–hypopnea index in the 243 participants with obstructive sleep apnea.
RESULTS
A total of 2339 participants underwent randomization. The mean percent change in body weight in the retatrutide groups was −18% (4-mg dose), −24% (9-mg dose), and −25.% (12-mg dose) versus −3.9% in the placebo group.
Among the participants with knee osteoarthritis, the corresponding changes in the pain score in the retatrutide groups for the hybrid estimand were −3.2, −3.5, and −3.6 versus −1.9 with placebo.
Among the participants with obstructive sleep apnea, the corresponding changes in events per hour in the retatrutide groups for the hybrid-treatment estimand were −23, −34, and 32 versus −10.
The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal.
Conclusions
In adults with obesity, retatrutide resulted in significant weight reduction, reduced pain in participants with knee osteoarthritis, and reduced apnea–hypopnea events in participants with obstructive sleep apnea.
The amount of weight loss was significant and this medication is anticipated to be the powerful of the three agents. The improvements in knee pain and sleep apnea are meaningful and hopeful.
At the KAHN CENTER we seek to identify the root causes of weight excess but they do not always lead to plans to achieve more optimal weights. Medications are used selectively and successfully, both short and long term.
Both semiglutide and tirzepatide had data for reducing the risk of heart disease. It is hoped that similar data will be assessed and reported for this new agent.
