Retatrutide shows clinical promise amid black market death reports

Retatrutide, an experimental once-weekly injectable drug under development by Eli Lilly, is showing significant promise in clinical trials for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. In a phase 3 trial published in The Lancet, participants lost an average of up to 15.3% of their body weight over 40 weeks. The drug distinguishes itself from existing treatments like Ozempic and Mounjaro by targeting three hormone receptors—GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon—rather than one or two.

However, the rise of a black market for unapproved versions of the drug has led to serious health consequences. The FDA has received at least two reports of deaths linked to the use of bootleg retatrutide. In one instance, a 41-year-old woman died of cardiac arrest after using a product labeled as a ‘suspect product’ obtained from an unreliable source. Other reported side effects from unregulated versions include kidney injury, extreme dehydration, and severe diarrhea.