Eli Lilly expands access to retatrutide, showing greater weight loss than Ozempic

Experimental weight-loss drug retatrutide, or “reta,” will soon reach more patients before FDA approval, as it has shown dramatically greater weight loss than Ozempic and Mounjaro. Retatrutide mimics three appetite hormones and produced up to 28% weight loss over 80 weeks in trials. Eli Lilly is expanding access, requiring patients 18 or older with refractory obesity and two serious obesity-related complications. Lilly and the FDA dispute whether retatrutide is a biologic or peptide, affecting market exclusivity. Gray-market versions exist; at least 14 people were hospitalized. Approval could come late 2027.