Eli Lilly announced on Oct. 28, 2026, that its investigational metabolic medication retatrutide outperformed Novo Nordisk's Ozempic in lowering blood sugar and body weight in an 80-week Phase 3 clinical trial.
For adults managing type 2 diabetes and obesity, the trial offers a direct look at the next wave of metabolic treatments that target multiple hormone pathways at once. While Ozempic targets only GLP-1, retatrutide acts on GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. Other approved Lilly medicines, such as Mounjaro and Zepbound, act on GLP-1 and GIP.
Blood Sugar and Weight Results
In the study, patients who completed the regimen on the highest weekly dose of 12 milligrams of retatrutide achieved an average A1c blood sugar decrease of 2.2 percentage points, compared with a 1.8 percentage-point decline for those administered Ozempic, according to Eli Lilly. A lower 9-milligram dose of retatrutide also lowered A1c by 2.2 percentage points, though the company characterized the statistical margin versus Ozempic as nominal.
Weight loss differed sharply across the groups. Eli Lilly reported that participants completing treatment on the 12-milligram dose lost an average of 20.9% to 21% of their body weight, while those on the 9-milligram dose shed 20%. Patients taking Ozempic lost between 9% and 9.4% of their weight.
Side Effects and Approval Steps
The higher potency brought a noticeable difference in tolerability. Adverse reactions led 8% of patients taking the 12-milligram dose and 5% taking the 9-milligram dose to discontinue treatment, compared with 3% of participants taking Ozempic.
Novo Nordisk does not yet market a dual-agonist treatment and has candidates targeting three metabolic pathways in Phase 2 clinical trials. Eli Lilly has not yet published an exact timeline for submitting a New Drug Application to the Food and Drug Administration, and comprehensive safety data detailing specific side effects have not been disclosed. Patients interested in how these emerging clinical options relate to their current diabetes care should consult their treating physician or health plan administrator.
