Description
Retatrutide
GLP-RT (LY3437943) is a synthetic 39-amino acid peptide and the first triple receptor agonist to reach clinical trials, simultaneously targeting the GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors. It represents the next generation beyond dual agonists such as tirzepatide, adding glucagon receptor activation as a third distinct mechanism (Jastreboff et al., 2023).
Mechanism of Action
- By activating all three receptors together, GLP-RT combines the appetite-suppressing and insulin-stimulating effects of GLP-1 and GIP with the energy-expenditure and fat-burning effects driven by glucagon receptor activation
- Glucagon receptor activation promotes the breakdown of fats, increases energy use, and has a direct effect on the liver — an organ that carries abundant glucagon receptors but no GLP-1 or GIP receptors — making GLP-RT of particular interest for liver-related metabolic research (Bhatt et al., 2024)
- The peptide is engineered with a fatty diacid chain that extends its half-life, enabling once-weekly dosing, and includes structural modifications that protect it from enzymatic breakdown (Nair et al., 2025)
Key Research Findings
- In the phase 2 obesity trial, subjects receiving the 12 mg dose achieved a mean body weight reduction of 24.2% over 48 weeks — with no plateau observed — exceeding weight loss reported with both GLP-SM and GLP-TZ at comparable timepoints (Jastreboff et al., 2023)
- In the phase 2 type 2 diabetes trial, 82% of participants on the 12 mg dose reached normal blood sugar levels (HbA1c ≤ 6.5%) after 36 weeks, alongside dose-dependent reductions in body weight of up to 16.9% (Rosenstock et al., 2023)
- A phase 2a liver disease trial documented up to 82% reduction in liver fat in subjects with metabolic liver disease, with phase 3 trials now underway across obesity, type 2 diabetes, and liver disease indications (Harrison et al., 2024)
For research use only. Not intended for use in humans or animals.
References
Harrison, S. A., Taub, R., Neff, G. W., Lucas, K. J., Labriola, D., Moussa, S. E., Younossi, Z. M., & Loomba, R. (2024). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03018-2
Jastreboff, A. M., Kaplan, L. M., Frías, J. P., Wu, Q., Du, Y., Gurbuz, S., & Wadden, T. A. (2023). https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2301972
Nair, A., Rodrigues, A., & Fonseca, V. (2025). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12190491/
Rosenstock, J., Frias, J., Jastreboff, A. M., Du, Y., Lou, J., & Gurbuz, S. (2023). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37385280/











