Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY) has reported positive results from its late-stage trial of retatrutide, a next-generation obesity drug, demonstrating significant reductions in blood sugar levels and body weight.
The Phase 3 TRANSCEND-T2D-1 trial evaluated retatrutide, a triple hormone receptor agonist targeting GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon, in adults with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar was not adequately controlled with diet and exercise. Participants in the trial had a mean diabetes duration of 2.5 years.
According to Eli Lilly, retatrutide met the primary and all key secondary endpoints at 40 weeks. Participants taking the highest 12 mg dose experienced an average A1C reduction of up to 2% and lost an average of 36.6 pounds (16.8% of body weight). Weight loss continued throughout the 40-week treatment period, with no plateau observed.
The trial also reported improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, including non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure.
The most commonly reported side effects were nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, primarily during dose escalation. Discontinuation rates due to adverse events ranged from 2.2% to 5.1% across the retatrutide doses, compared to no discontinuations in the placebo group.
“For many people with type 2 diabetes, it is a struggle to achieve both A1C control and weight loss,” said Kenneth Custer, executive vice president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health. “These results support the potential of this novel molecule for people living with type 2 diabetes.”
Additional data from TRANSCEND-T2D-1 will be presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in June and published in a peer-reviewed journal. More results from the retatrutide program are expected over the coming year.
Shares of Eli Lilly were little changed on the update, trading hands at about $917 late morning on Thursday.