Lilly retatrutide beats Ozempic in head-to-head diabetes trial

Eli Lilly said its experimental drug retatrutide lowered blood sugar by 2.2 percentage points at 80 weeks in a Phase 3 head-to-head trial, against 1.8 points for Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, with weight loss of 20.9 percent at the highest dose against 9.4 percent for Ozempic.

Why it matters: Retatrutide is Lilly's next generation entry in the diabetes and obesity market Ozempic created, and beating the established drug on both blood sugar and weight in a direct comparison strengthens Lilly's hand against Novo Nordisk before any approval decision.

Data as of Eli Lilly announcement of topline results from the TRANSCEND-T2D-2 Phase 3 trial on October 28, 2026, as reported by STAT and by Reuters the same day and read in full in this run. Figures are company reported topline results; the full trial data have not been published. Developing item.

Eli Lilly said on Wednesday that retatrutide, its once weekly experimental drug, met the primary and all key secondary endpoints in TRANSCEND-T2D-2, a Phase 3 head-to-head trial against Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic in adults with type 2 diabetes. At 80 weeks, both retatrutide doses lowered A1C, a measure of blood sugar over time, by an average of 2.2 percentage points, against 1.8 points for Ozempic at 2 milligrams, the highest approved dose.

Participants on retatrutide lost an average of 19.5 percent of their weight at the 9 milligram dose and 20.9 percent at 12 milligrams, against 9.4 percent on Ozempic, and Lilly said the drug also gave larger improvements in non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure. Retatrutide activates three hormone receptors, GLP-1, GIP and glucagon, and Lilly said this was the sixth Phase 3 trial in which it has delivered its expected efficacy.

Lilly retatrutide beats Ozempic in head-to-head diabetes trial

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