Eli Lilly announced positive topline results from its TRANSCEND-T2D-2 Phase 3 trial of experimental drug retatrutide. In a head-to-head study of adults with type 2 diabetes, retatrutide was superior to Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic in reducing blood sugar and weight.
At 80 weeks, the 9 mg and 12 mg doses each reduced A1C by an average of 2.2%, compared with 1.8% for Ozempic.
Patients taking 9 mg retatrutide lost an average of 44.3 lbs (19.5%). Patients taking 12 mg lost an average of 47.4 lbs (20.9%). Ozempic patients lost an average of 20.9 lbs (9.4%).
The most common adverse events associated with retatrutide were gastrointestinal-related. Side effects led to treatment discontinuation in 4.8% of patients on the 9 mg dose and 7.9% on the 12 mg dose, compared with 2.7% of Ozempic patients.
If approved, retatrutide could significantly shift the treatment paradigm for type 2 diabetes and obesity.