Global pharma powerhouse Eli Lilly and Company has announced that its investigational drug retatrutide delivered striking results in a Phase 3 clinical trial for adults with type 2 diabetes. 

 

The TRANSCEND-T2D-1 study tested the first-in-class triple hormone receptor agonist—which targets GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon—alongside diet and exercise in patients struggling to manage blood sugar.

 

The trial enrolled adults with a mean diabetes duration of 2.5 years who had inadequate glycemic control through lifestyle measures alone. Retatrutide met the primary endpoint and all key secondary endpoints, producing significant reductions in both A1C and body weight at 40 weeks compared to placebo.

 

Participants taking retatrutide achieved average A1C reductions of up to 2.0%, while also losing up to 36.6 lbs (16.8%) on average. Weight loss continued throughout the study period.

 

“For many people with type 2 diabetes, it is a struggle to achieve both A1C control and weight loss, since obesity has historically been harder to treat for those with type 2 diabetes,” said Kenneth Custer, executive vice president and president, Lilly Cardiometabolic Health.

 

“With triple agonist retatrutide, we set out to make a molecule that could help patients achieve substantial A1C reduction and weight loss. These results support the remarkable potential of this novel molecule for people living with type 2 diabetes, with up to 2% A1C improvement and nearly 17% weight loss in 40 weeks of treatment.”

 

TRANSCEND-T2D-1 also showed improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, including non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure.

 

The drug’s safety profile was generally consistent with other incretin-based therapies. Common side effects included nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, mostly during dose escalation. Dysesthesia occurred in a small percentage of participants and was typically mild. Discontinuation rates due to adverse events were low.