Three selected reports cover early retatrutide studies and the later TRANSCEND-T2D-1 phase 3 diabetes trial. Populations, comparators and primary endpoints differ across the studies.123
Bottom line from this bounded source set
Selected trials reported weight reduction and improved glycated hemoglobin. The newer phase 3 diabetes study supports a glycemic effect in its studied population, but these reports do not establish prevention of long-term complications; gastrointestinal adverse events and discontinuations matter.123
Reviewed study record
Phase 2 obesity trial
Design
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial followed participants for 48 weeks and assessed body-weight change and safety.1
Population
The trial enrolled 338 adults with obesity, or overweight plus at least one weight-related condition.1
Outcomes reported
At 48 weeks, reported mean body-weight change ranged from -8.7% to -24.2% across retatrutide groups, compared with -2.1% for placebo. Gastrointestinal events were the most common adverse events, and heart-rate increases peaked at 24 weeks before declining.1
Limitations
This was a sponsor-funded Phase 2 trial with 48-week follow-up; it was not a long-term cardiovascular-outcomes or rare-harms study.1
Reviewed study record
Phase 2 type 2 diabetes trial
Design
A randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-comparator-controlled Phase 2 trial evaluated glycated hemoglobin at 24 weeks and body weight at 36 weeks.2
Population
The trial randomized 281 adults with type 2 diabetes and elevated body-mass index at 42 U.S. centers; 275 were included in efficacy analyses.2
Outcomes reported
At 24 weeks, reported glycated-hemoglobin changes ranged from -0.43 to -2.02 percentage points across retatrutide groups, compared with -0.01 for placebo and -1.41 for the active comparator. Reported body-weight change at 36 weeks ranged from -3.19% to -16.94% across retatrutide groups.2
Limitations
The sponsor-funded trial had 36-week follow-up, 79% completed treatment, and 84% of participants were White; those features limit conclusions about durability and generalizability.2
Reviewed study record
TRANSCEND-T2D-1: phase 3 diabetes study
Design
A blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial assessed 40-week glycated hemoglobin change under NCT06354660.3
Population
The trial randomized 537 adults with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with diet and exercise alone.3
Outcomes reported
Under the treatment-regimen analysis, HbA1c decreased by 1.69–1.94 percentage points across active groups versus 0.81 with placebo. Gastrointestinal events were common; adverse-event discontinuations occurred in 2–5% of active groups and none of the placebo group.3
Limitations
HbA1c and weight changes do not establish prevention of long-term complications. The report recorded two deaths in one active group, which the authors considered unrelated to study treatment; it reported no severe hypoglycemia.3
No registered Crossref update in the reviewed snapshotChecked August 19, 2026 for DOI 10.1056/nejmoa2301972. This bounded result is not proof that the publication has never been corrected or retracted. Open the pinned Crossref work endpoint ↗
No registered Crossref update in the reviewed snapshotChecked August 19, 2026 for DOI 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)01053-x. This bounded result is not proof that the publication has never been corrected or retracted. Open the pinned Crossref work endpoint ↗
No registered Crossref update in the reviewed snapshotChecked September 15, 2026 for DOI 10.1016/s0140-6736(26)00967-0. This bounded result is not proof that the publication has never been corrected or retracted. Open the pinned Crossref work endpoint ↗