Skip to content Retatrutide is an investigational medication and is not FDA-approved or available for public use. This page is provided solely for general educational information regarding ongoing clinical research.
From Phase 2 trials:
Retatrutide is an investigational medication currently being studied in Phase 3 clinical trials. The FDA has not approved it for public use. Retatrutide is not currently available as an FDA-approved prescription medication. This page is informational only and does not represent an offering of retatrutide by Haven.
Because it activates three hormone receptors instead of one (like many GLP-1 agonists) or two (like GLP-1 & GIP dual agonists), researchers hope retatrutide may deliver greater weight loss, better metabolic improvements, or work in people who don’t respond well to current treatments. Early results suggest weight loss exceeding that of many approved agents (in trial settings), though side effects and long-term safety still require more data.
A meta-analysis published in 2025 (covering randomized controlled trials through May 2024) included approximately 878 patients and found significant improvements in weight and metabolic markers with retatrutide in people with obesity:
Ongoing Phase 3 trials are expanding the research scope beyond the Phase 2 findings summarized above, with studies currently examining retatrutide in people with obesity and cardiovascular disease risk, as well as in people with obesity experiencing chronic low back pain.
Medical content reviewed for accuracy by Sarah Rashoff, ARNP – Medical Director
Last reviewed: August 2026
Medical content reviewed for accuracy by Sarah Rashoff, ARNP – Medical Director
Last reviewed: August 2026
Semaglutide (Ozempic®, Wegovy®) activates the GLP-1 receptor. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®, Zepbound®) activates two receptors, GLP-1 and GIP. Retatrutide is a triple agonist, targeting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors simultaneously. Researchers believe this broader hormonal activity may produce greater effects on weight and metabolism, though direct head-to-head comparisons with currently approved medications have not yet been completed in large-scale trials.
No. Because retatrutide is an investigational drug that has not received FDA approval, it cannot be legally dispensed through compounding pharmacies for general use. Compounding exemptions that apply to some approved drugs do not extend to unapproved investigational compounds. Access is currently limited to participants in authorized clinical trials.
Possibly, depending on eligibility criteria and trial availability. Phase 3 trials are currently underway. Individuals interested in participating can search the FDA’s public clinical trial registry for active studies using “retatrutide” as the search term. Enrollment eligibility, locations, and requirements vary by study.
Weight regain after stopping incretin-class medications has been documented with currently approved drugs in this class. While long-term retatrutide discontinuation data is limited at this stage, the existing evidence on GLP-1 and dual-agonist medications suggests that weight loss may not be fully maintained after stopping treatment. Researchers continue to study this across the incretin medication class.
There is no confirmed timeline. Retatrutide is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials. If those trials are completed successfully and data are submitted to the FDA, a regulatory review process would follow, typically taking a year or more after a complete submission. Any public availability would depend entirely on the FDA’s review outcomes and the manufacturer’s filing decisions.
Phase 2 trials are smaller studies designed to evaluate a drug’s effectiveness and to identify appropriate dosing ranges and preliminary safety signals. Phase 3 trials are larger, more rigorous studies, often involving thousands of participants across multiple sites, and are required to confirm efficacy, monitor adverse effects, and build the safety database needed for regulatory approval. The findings referenced on this page are primarily from Phase 2; results from Phase 3 are not yet available.
In clinical trials, participants are typically advised to follow a reduced-calorie diet and increase physical activity in addition to the study medication. This is consistent with how other medications in this class are studied and prescribed. Whether and how lifestyle interventions will be formally recommended alongside retatrutide, if it receives approval, has not yet been established.
Clinical trials generally exclude individuals with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, severe gastrointestinal disease, or recent cardiovascular events. Pregnancy is also a standard exclusion criterion. Because retatrutide is still investigational, formal contraindication guidance for the general population does not yet exist and would be established through the FDA approval process if it occurs.
For those currently exploring medically supervised weight management options, Haven offers physician-guided medical weight loss in Gig Harbor, WA, using FDA-approved medications and personalized treatment plans, available now.
