Eli Lilly reported topline data from two more Phase 3 trials of retatrutide on July 23, 2026 — this time in the harder-to-treat populations. TRIUMPH-2 tested it in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes; TRIUMPH-3 tested it in adults with severe obesity and established cardiovascular disease. Both hit their primary weight-loss endpoints, topping out at 22.6% average body-weight loss.
Research-context information only. Retatrutide is an investigational drug not approved by the FDA. Protocols, doses, and reactions reported below come from published clinical trials and self-reported community sources. This article reports what has been documented, not what should be done. Possession or use of investigational drugs outside an authorized clinical trial may be illegal in your jurisdiction. Consult a licensed physician for personal medical decisions.
What the Two Trials Reported
These are the fourth and fifth Phase 3 readouts in Lilly's TRIUMPH program. The earlier TRIUMPH-1 obesity trial reported 28.3% weight loss at 80 weeks in participants without diabetes. TRIUMPH-2 and TRIUMPH-3 answer the two questions clinicians ask next: does it work when diabetes blunts weight loss, and does it hold up in people who already have heart disease.
TRIUMPH-2 — obesity plus type 2 diabetes (80 weeks, 1,152 participants, randomized 1:1:1:1 to 4 / 9 / 12 mg or placebo):
| Dose | Mean Weight Loss | Mean Pounds Lost |
|---|---|---|
| 12 mg | 20.8% | 49.6 lbs |
| 9 mg | 19.1% | 45.4 lbs |
| 4 mg | 12.7% | 29.8 lbs |
| Placebo | 4.0% | 9.3 lbs |
All three doses met the primary endpoint. Glycemic control moved alongside weight: A1C fell by up to 1.6 percentage points from a 7.7% baseline, versus 0.2 points on placebo. Per the trial report, gastrointestinal adverse events predominated and were mostly mild to moderate; treatment discontinuations ran 2.2%–5.1% across the active arms versus 0% on placebo.
TRIUMPH-3 — severe obesity (class 2/3, BMI ≥35) plus established cardiovascular disease (80 weeks, 1,949 participants, randomized 1:1:2 to 9 mg, 12 mg, or placebo):
| Dose | Mean Weight Loss | Mean Pounds Lost |
|---|---|---|
| 12 mg | 22.6% | 55.8 lbs |
| 9 mg | 21.6% | — |
| Placebo | 3.2% | — |
At the 12 mg dose, TRIUMPH-3 also reported movement in cardiometabolic risk markers: triglycerides down 37.0%, non-HDL cholesterol down 16.5%, systolic blood pressure down 9.3 mmHg, waist circumference down 7.5 inches (19.0 cm), and the inflammatory marker hsCRP down 51.2%.
One caveat drew analyst attention. TRIUMPH-3 measured weight loss and risk markers in a cardiovascular-disease population — it was not a cardiovascular-outcomes trial, so it did not demonstrate fewer heart attacks or strokes. Coverage of the readout noted that the hard-event benefit remains unproven and will need a dedicated outcomes study. Lilly said it plans to submit a Biologics License Application to the FDA in Q1 2027.
What This Means for Buyers
Retatrutide's data set now spans obesity, obesity-plus-diabetes, and obesity-plus-heart-disease — three of the largest patient groups a weight-loss drug has to serve. What has not changed is availability. Retatrutide is not FDA-approved and cannot be legally prescribed for weight loss. With a BLA not even filed until Q1 2027, a legal prescription route is realistically late 2027 or 2028.
Until then, the compound circulates through research-peptide vendors. Buyers comparing sources typically weigh two things: third-party certificate-of-analysis (COA) testing and price per milligram. Trial doses ran in the single-digit milligrams per week range, which is why vendor listings commonly reference 10 mg or larger vials as covering an extended stretch. Ascension Peptides currently runs a standing 50% discount, with EZ Peptides and Ion Peptide close behind on COA-backed pricing.
Compare live pricing and COA status: Best Retatrutide Vendors ranks in-stock sources on price, testing, and reputation.
This article contains affiliate links; The Peptide Catalog may earn a commission if you purchase through them. Retatrutide is sold for research use only and is not FDA-approved for human use.
