Retatutride hits 3 receptors (vs. 1–2)
A new Eli Lilly drug called retatutride hits three GLP-1-related receptors — compared to one or two for current drugs — and has completed Phase 3 trials.
Snapshot · TED Talks Daily
Can Ozempic end addiction? | Dhruv Khullar | Your Body on Tech
Explore episode
Jun 26, 2026
Where this was said
The Future of GLP-1 Drugs: More Receptors, Oral Versions, and a Pipeline Explosion
At 39:35 · chapter starts 39:22
Asked where GLP-1s are headed in the next year and beyond, Khullar paints an optimistic but measured picture of an expanding pipeline [1] — Dhruv Khullar "Retatutride hits 3 receptors (vs. 1–2): A new Eli Lilly drug called retatutride hits three GLP-1-related receptors — compared to one or two…" 39:35 . The current landscape is dominated by semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro), but Eli Lilly's retatutride — a triple-receptor agonist targeting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon — has already completed Phase 3 trials. Oral formulations are in development, removing the need for injection and likely improving adherence. The trajectory over 5–10 years is toward more options, better side-effect management, and reduced muscle loss — a far more personalized GLP-1 toolkit than exists today.
What the Next Generation of GLP-1 Drugs Looks Like
The GLP-1 landscape is about to get much more complex. Eli Lilly's retatutride hits three receptors versus the current drugs' one or two and has completed Phase 3 trials. Oral versions are coming. Within five to ten years, there will be many more options targeting specific side effects, muscle preservation, and different administration routes.
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