Why is Retatrutide called the ‘triple hormone’ drug?

Retatrutide is a next-generation weight loss medication from Eli Lilly that is currently in Phase 3 trials. It is nicknamed the “triple G” drug because it mimics 3 hunger-regulating hormones: GLP-1, GIP and glucagon. Retatrutide is a new approach to treat obesity and early results suggest it could cause more weight loss than other treatments.

This includes tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Eli Lilly’s weight loss injection Zepbound and type 2 diabetes drug Mounjaro. It mimics 2 of the hormones, GLP-1 and GIP. While Wegovy, which is manufactured by Novo Nordisk, only works on GLP-1 to help you lose weight.

You can expect to see data from a late-stage trial of retatrutide later this year, a few months earlier than Eli Lilly anticipated.