Eli Lilly announced that its next-generation weight loss drug, retatrutide, demonstrated significant weight reduction and alleviated knee pain in participants during a late-stage clinical trial.
The company stated that by the 68th week of the trial, the drug helped participants lose an average of up to 71.2 pounds (approximately 32.3 kg) while substantially reducing osteoarthritis-related pain.
Eli Lilly's stock rose 1.5% in pre-market trading.
The once-weekly injectable drug is one of Eli Lilly's key bets in the next-generation weight loss market. The company's existing weight loss drugs, tirzepatide (branded as Mounjaro) and zepbound, have seen surging sales, helping Eli Lilly surpass Novo Nordisk to lead the GLP-1 drug market, with its market capitalization exceeding $1 trillion.
Eli Lilly is advancing its next-gen weight loss drug pipeline, including retatrutide, aiming to enhance efficacy, improve accessibility, and treat a broader range of conditions.
Unlike other weight loss drugs that target only one or two hunger-related hormone receptors, retatrutide blocks three receptors simultaneously.
Eli Lilly expects seven additional Phase III clinical trials for retatrutide to conclude by 2026. The drug is currently being evaluated for its effects on patients with various conditions, including sleep apnea, chronic lower back pain, cardio-renal outcomes, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
Kenneth Cast, President of Eli Lilly’s Cardiometabolic Health division, said, "We believe retatrutide has the potential to become an important treatment option for patients with significant weight loss needs and specific complications, including knee osteoarthritis."
Comments