Eli Lilly Advances Two Next-Generation Weight Loss Drugs

Eli Lilly and Company is expanding its obesity treatment portfolio with two high-efficacy experimental drugs, retatrutide and EloraTZP. The company plans to request regulatory approval for retatrutide in the first quarter of 2027 following Phase 3 trials that showed average weight loss of up to 28.3% in overweight or obese patients and 20.8% in those with type 2 diabetes over 80 weeks. Retatrutide, which mimics GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon hormones, also reduced the severity of obstructive sleep apnea by up to 60.6%.

Simultaneously, the company is developing EloraTZP, a combination of tirzepatide and the amylin receptor agonist eloralintide. In a Phase 2 trial involving patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity, EloraTZP achieved an average weight loss of 23.3% over 48 weeks, significantly outperforming tirzepatide alone, which saw a 14.8% reduction. Eli Lilly will begin Phase 3 trials for EloraTZP in the fourth quarter of 2026.

These developments are part of a broader strategy to maintain market leadership against competitors including Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and Viking Therapeutics. In addition to the combination therapy, Eli Lilly is conducting a separate Phase 3 trial for eloralintide as a standalone treatment for obesity.