From Arthritis to Weight Loss: 8 Potential Retatrutide Benefits and Uses

Retatrutide has been gaining a lot of attention in the healthcare field. This experimental medication could be one of the next glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications up for FDA review.

Many news outlets have reported on retatrutide’s weight-loss potential. But retatrutide’s possible uses could go far beyond weight loss. Researchers are hard at work to see if retatrutide has benefits for the heart, kidneys, liver, and more. But how far along in clinical trials is this medication? And what might it be FDA approved for?

What is retatrutide?

Retatrutide is an injectable medication that’s currently in clinical trials for several possible uses. It works by acting like three hormones:

• Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)

• GLP-1

• Glucagon

Most approved GLP-1 medications only act like GLP-1. A few also mimic GIP. If approved, retatrutide will be the first medication to act like these two hormones and glucagon. That means it’ll be the first in a new class of medications.

Below are details on eight potential retatrutide uses that are in ongoing studies.

1. Osteoarthritis

Experts are studying retatrutide for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee among adults considered obese or overweight. The phase 3 trial is already complete. So this is one of the conditions for which retatrutide is closer to potential approval.

The phase 3 trial (TRIUMPH-4) compared two different retatrutide doses (9 mg and 12 mg) to placebo (an injection with no medication). The study focused on OA pain relief and weight loss. It also looked at other markers of metabolic health, such as cholesterol and blood pressure levels. The study ran for 77 weeks (almost 18 months).

The TRIUMPH-4 trial found:

• Significant relief of OA knee pain compared to placebo

• An average of 26% to 28% loss of starting body weight depending on the dose

• Lower cholesterol levels

• Lower systolic blood pressure (the top number when measuring blood pressure) with the higher dose

• Lower levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (a blood test that measures inflammation)

Eli Lilly (the manufacturer) hasn’t announced when they plan to file retatrutide for FDA approval for OA. But they have stated that results from several more phase 3 trials will be available during 2026. Lilly is likely waiting for more clinical trial data before filing for approval.

2. Type 2 diabetes

Researchers are also studying retatrutide for adults living with Type 2 diabetes. This use is also one that’s closer to potential approval, since its phase 3 trials are either complete or close to completion.

There are three phase 3 trials (the TRANSCEND trials) studying retatrutide for Type 2 diabetes. Each looks at slightly different groups of participants:

• TRANSCEND-T2D-1: This 11-month trial compared three doses of retatrutide to placebo in adults with Type 2 diabetes taking no other diabetes medications.

• TRANSCEND-T2D-2: This trial is scheduled to run over a little more than 2 years, and is comparing two doses of retatrutide to semaglutide (Ozempic) in adults with Type 2 diabetes taking metformin. Participants may or may not also be taking a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2) inhibitor, such as empagliflozin (Jardiance).

• TRANSCEND-T2D-3: This trial is scheduled to run for about 14 months. Researchers are comparing three doses of retatrutide to placebo in adults with Type 2 diabetes and kidney problems taking a long-acting insulin, such as insulin glargine (Lantus). Participants may or may not also be taking metformin and/or an SGLT2 inhibitor.

These studies focus on how much retatrutide lowers hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c or A1C). This is your average blood glucose (sugar) over the past 2 to 3 months. But they also look at weight loss, cholesterol levels, and systolic blood pressure.

Only the TRANSCEND-T2D-1 trial is complete so far. This study found:

• Average A1C reductions of 1.7% to 2% depending on the dose

• Average weight loss of 11% to nearly 17% depending on the dose

• Lower cholesterol levels for the higher two doses

• Lower systolic blood pressure for the higher two doses

TRANSCEND-T2D-2 is expected to finish in early 2027. TRANSCEND-T2D-3 is set to wrap up in late 2026.

3. Weight loss

Weight loss is the potential retatrutide benefit that’s gotten the most attention so far. A phase 2 trial showed significant weight loss. Adults without diabetes lost an average of up to 17.5% of their starting body weight after 24 weeks (5.5 months) of retatrutide treatment. And participants who continued treatment lost an average of up to 24% after 48 weeks (11 months).

In May 2026, researchers announced initial results from one of several phase 3 trials (the TRIUMPH-1 trial). On average, people receiving the highest dose (12 mg) of retatrutide lost about 28% of their starting body weight over 18 months. And the lowest dose (4 mg) led to an average 19% weight loss.

There are six other ongoing phase 3 trials that focus on weight loss:

• TRIUMPH-2 (runs for about 20 months): Compares three doses of retatrutide to placebo in adults who are considered overweight and also have Type 2 diabetes

• TRIUMPH-3 (runs for just over 2 years): Compares two doses of retatrutide to placebo  in adults with heart disease who are also considered obese

• TRIUMPH-5 (runs for about 20 months): Compares retatrutide to tirzepatide (Zepbound) in adults considered obese

• TRIUMPH-6 (runs for about 2.5 years): Compares two doses of retatrutide for long-term weight maintenance in adults considered obese

• TRIUMPH-8 (runs for about 15 months): Compares two doses of retatrutide to placebo in adults with larger bodies that don’t have Type 2 diabetes

• TRIUMPH-9 (runs for just over 2 years): Compares three different retatrutide dosage schedules for weight loss in adults with larger bodies

The earliest that these ongoing trials are expected to finish is mid-2026. But some won’t wrap up until 2028.

4. Obstructive sleep apnea

Currently, tirzepatide is the only medication approved for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). But evidence suggests that other GLP-1 medications may also have benefits for this condition. So it’s not surprising that scientists are studying retatrutide for OSA, too.

The TRIUMPH-1 trial (mentioned above) looked at whether retatrutide could treat OSA. It looked for a change to the apnea-hypopnea index. This is a tool that healthcare professionals can use to diagnose and monitor OSA. The trial also measured whether participants had improvements in sleep quality.

TRIUMPH-1 is complete. But full results, including potential OSA benefits, haven’t been published yet.

5. Chronic kidney disease

Experts are also studying retatrutide for adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD). A phase 2 trial found that retatrutide helped improve kidney function in adults who are considered overweight after 5.5 months. But it had the most benefit for people without Type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes didn’t have significant kidney improvements.

An ongoing phase 3 trial (TRIUMPH-Outcomes) is further exploring retatrutide’s potential CKD benefits. It’ll focus on whether retatrutide helps lower the risk of CKD-related complications and death. The trial will include people with and without diabetes.

The study will run for about 5 years and isn’t expected to finish until 2029.

6. Cardiovascular risk reduction

Many of retatrutide’s phase 2 and 3 trials include heart-related health markers, such as blood pressure and cholesterol. As mentioned, retatrutide seems to have a positive effect on these markers. Phase 3 trial data will help confirm if these results translate to long-term heart protection.

The TRIUMPH-Outcomes trial discussed above is also focusing on whether retatrutide can reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). MACE includes heart attacks, strokes, hospitalization due to heart failure, or cardiovascular death.

This study is expected to run until 2029.

7. Chronic lower back pain

There is emerging evidence that GLP-1 medications might help with certain chronic pain conditions. Researchers are looking at whether retatrutide may help relieve chronic lower back pain.

TRIUMPH-7 is a phase 3 trial that will compare retatrutide to placebo in adults with chronic lower back pain who are considered obese or overweight. The study will focus on pain relief and weight loss. But it’ll also look for improvements in quality of life, such as sleep quality and physical function. The trial will run for about 18 months.

TRIUMPH-7 is ongoing and is expected to finish in 2027.

8. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)

Retatrutide may also be helpful in treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). This is a form of fatty liver disease.

A phase 2 trial found that people receiving retatrutide had significant reductions in liver fat after 5.5 months. And over 85% of those using the highest dose reached a level of liver fat that’s considered normal.

An ongoing phase 3 trial (SYNERGY-Outcomes) will help confirm retatrutide’s MASH benefits. The study will run for about 4.5 years. It’ll focus on whether retatrutide is able to reduce complications related to MASH. It’ll also look at whether the medication improves liver health-related markers, such as liver enzyme levels.

This phase 3 trial is expected to run until 2032. But initial results may be available in late 2030.

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Written by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

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