Study summary · research use only
Effects of once-weekly subcutaneous retatrutide on weight and metabolic markers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials in adult human patients with overweight, obesity, and/or type 2 diabetes examined once-weekly subcutaneous retatrutide's association with weight and metabolic markers. It pooled three studies comprising 640 patients, 510 of whom received retatrutide. Retatrutide was associated with reductions in body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference compared with placebo, and with a greater proportion of patients reaching weight reductions of ≥5%, ≥10%, ≥15%, and ≥20% versus placebo. The abstract also reports an increase in non-severe gastrointestinal and hypersensitivity adverse events with retatrutide, and notes that phase 3 trials are expected to provide further long-term data.
Abstract
To assess the effects of once-weekly subcutaneous retatrutide on weight and metabolic markers and the occurrence of side effects in patients with overweight, obesity and/or type 2 diabetes (T2D). PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were systematically searched for placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published up until February 23, 2024. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) for continuous outcomes and risk ratios (RRs) for binary endpoints were computed, with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). A total of three studies were included, comprising 640 patients, of whom 510 were prescribed retatrutide. Compared with placebo, retatrutide significantly reduced body weight (WMD -10.66 kg; 95 % CI -17.63, -3.69), body mass index (WMD -4.53 kg/m2; 95 % CI -7.51, -1.55), and waist circumference (WMD -6.61 cm; 95 % CI -13.17, -0.05). In addition, retatrutide significantly increased the proportion of patients who achieved a weight reduction of ≥5 % (RR 2.92; 95 % CI 2.17-3.93), ≥10 % (RR 9.32; 95 % CI 4.56-19.06), ≥15 % (RR 18.40; 95 % CI 6.00-56.42), and ≥20 % (RR 16.61; 95 % CI 4.17-66.12). In this meta-analysis, the use of once-weekly subcutaneous retatrutide was associated with a significant reduction in body weight and improvement of metabolic markers in patients with overweight, obesity and/or T2D, compared with placebo, with an increase in non-severe gastrointestinal and hypersensitivity adverse events. Phase 3 RCTs are expected to shed further light on the efficacy and safety of once-weekly subcutaneous retatrutide over the long term.
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