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Retatrutide vs Semaglutide

Updated 11 sources

Key differences

  1. 1Semaglutide hits GLP-1 only. Retatrutide adds GIP and glucagon.
  2. 2Semaglutide 2.4 mg gave 14.9% loss at 68 weeks in STEP 1, vs about 24 to 28% for retatrutide 12 mg in its trials. Cross-trial comparison.
  3. 3TRANSCEND-T2D-2 compares the two head to head on blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. No results yet.
  4. 4No head-to-head trial exists. In TRIUMPH-1 (2,339 adults, 80 weeks), retatrutide 12 mg averaged 28.3% weight loss (25.0% counting everyone who started) vs about 2 to 4% on placebo.
  5. 5Semaglutide is FDA approved; retatrutide is not.
  6. 6No sourced conversion from semaglutide to retatrutide exists, and guides say never combine them.

Side by side

Facts from each record, in the same words as their own pages.
Retatrutide and Semaglutide side by side
RetatrutideSemaglutide
Category
  • GLP-1, Weight loss
  • GLP-1, Weight loss
Evidence
  • Strong human trials
  • Strong human trials
FDA status
  • In clinical trialsRegulatory
  • FDA approved as Ozempic +2Regulatory
WADA
  • Not confirmed
  • Not prohibited
Half-life
  • About 6 days in the phase 1b trial, with exposure rising in proportion to dose. Built for once-weekly shots.Clinical study
  • About 1 week. It is still present 5 to 7 weeks after the last dose.Regulatory
Routes
  • Subcutaneous injection
  • Subcutaneous injection, Oral
Reported doses
  • 0.25 to 12 mg (subcutaneous injection)
  • 0.125 to 7.2 mg (subcutaneous injection)
  • 1.5 to 25 mg (oral)
  • 300 to 1,000 mcg (subcutaneous injection)
Most cited frequency
  • Once weekly. Start at 2 mg, step up every 4 weeks to a target of 4, 9 or 12 mg, then hold.
  • Once weekly; 4 weeks per step, then hold at 2.4 mg
Vial sizes
  • 5 mg, 10 mg, 12 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 24 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mgCompetitor guide
  • 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mgVendor guide
Mixed vial keeps
  • Keep the mixed vial in the fridge and use it within about 28 days.Community-reported
  • Keep the mixed vial in the fridge and use it within about 28 days; one guide says 30.Competitor guide
Protocols on file
  • 18
  • 12

Doses shown are what sources report, labelled by origin. Not medical advice.

Read each in full

Sources

11 sources, each checked by date. Record updated Oct 24, 2026. Numbers are restated in our own words and labelled by where they came from.

Clinical study7

  1. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP 1, Wilding et al., NEJM 2021)New England Journal of Medicine · checked Oct 23, 2026
  2. Triple-Hormone-Receptor Agonist Retatrutide for Obesity: A Phase 2 TrialNew England Journal of Medicine · checked Oct 23, 2026
  3. Preliminary results of retatrutide from TRIUMPH-1Lilly Medical · checked Oct 23, 2026
  4. How does retatrutide compare with other incretin-based therapies?Lilly Medical · checked Oct 23, 2026

Regulatory2

  1. Ozempic Prescribing Information (rev. 01/2025)FDA · checked Oct 23, 2026
  2. Wegovy injection and tablets label (SPL v19, Jun 30 2026)DailyMed · checked Oct 24, 2026