SharpyRetatrutide Clinical Trials: Results, Status, How to Join
Eli Lilly has tested retatrutide in more than a dozen phase 3 trials, and five have reported results so far, with average weight loss of up to 28.3% at 80 weeks in TRIUMPH-1. As of October 19, 2026, ClinicalTrials.gov shows the main obesity trials as completed or no longer recruiting; the one Lilly phase 3 study still enrolling is a liver disease trial, and doctors can request single-patient expanded access for a narrow group of people with severe obesity. To find a site, search "retatrutide" on ClinicalTrials.gov with the "Recruiting" filter, and while you wait, protect your muscle with protein and strength work using Sharpy.
Where do the retatrutide clinical trials stand, and can you still get into one? Here is the short version. Eli Lilly's phase 3 program for retatrutide is mostly done enrolling. Five phase 3 trials have reported results, with average weight loss as high as 28.3% at 80 weeks. As of October 19, 2026, ClinicalTrials.gov shows the main obesity trials as completed or "active, not recruiting." One Lilly phase 3 study that includes retatrutide is still recruiting, and it is for people with high-risk fatty liver disease.
We checked every phase 3 retatrutide study on ClinicalTrials.gov on October 19, 2026. This guide lists them all in plain English, with results, status and the steps to apply. For the drug itself, side effects and the black-market warning, see our main retatrutide guide.
Retatrutide clinical trials phase 3: the full list
Lilly runs two families of trials. TRIUMPH studies test retatrutide for obesity and its health problems. TRANSCEND-T2D studies test it for type 2 diabetes. Lilly says the TRIUMPH program alone has enrolled more than 5,800 people since 2023.
| Trial | Who is in it | People | Status (Oct 19, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRIUMPH-1 | Obesity or overweight, no diabetes; includes sleep apnea and knee pain groups | 2,339 | Completed, results out |
| TRIUMPH-2 | Obesity or overweight with type 2 diabetes | 1,152 | Completed, results out |
| TRIUMPH-3 | Severe obesity with heart disease | 1,949 | Completed, results out |
| TRIUMPH-4 | Obesity or overweight with knee osteoarthritis | 445 | Completed, results out |
| TRANSCEND-T2D-1 | Type 2 diabetes on diet and exercise only | 537 | Completed, results out |
| TRANSCEND-T2D-2 | Type 2 diabetes on metformin, vs semaglutide | 1,250 | Active, not recruiting |
| TRANSCEND-T2D-3 | Type 2 diabetes with kidney disease, on insulin | 320 | Active, not recruiting |
| TRIUMPH-5 | Obesity, vs tirzepatide (Zepbound) | 800 | Active, not recruiting |
| TRIUMPH-6 | Keeping weight off after losing it | 643 | Active, not recruiting |
| TRIUMPH-7 | Obesity or overweight with chronic low back pain | 586 | Active, not recruiting |
| TRIUMPH-8 | Obesity or overweight, no diabetes | 250 | Active, not recruiting |
| TRIUMPH-9 | Different ways of raising the dose | 600 | Active, not recruiting |
| TRIUMPH-Outcomes | BMI 27+ with heart or kidney disease | 10,000 | Active, not recruiting |
| SYNERGY-Outcomes | High-risk fatty liver disease (MASLD) | 4,500 | Recruiting |
People counts for finished trials come from Lilly's announcements. The rest are planned numbers from ClinicalTrials.gov.
"Active, not recruiting" means the study is still running but has all the volunteers it needs. You cannot sign up for those.
Retatrutide clinical trials results so far
Here are the headline numbers from Lilly's announcements, for the highest dose in each trial.
| Trial | Length | Top-dose result | Placebo |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRIUMPH-1 (12 mg) | 80 weeks | 28.3% weight loss | 2.2% |
| TRIUMPH-2 (12 mg) | 80 weeks | 20.8% weight loss; A1C down 1.5 points | 4.0% |
| TRIUMPH-3 (12 mg) | 80 weeks | 22.6% weight loss | 3.2% |
| TRIUMPH-4 (12 mg) | 68 weeks | 28.7% weight loss | Not given here |
| TRANSCEND-T2D-1 (12 mg) | 40 weeks | 16.8% weight loss; A1C down up to 2.0 points | Not given here |
TRIUMPH-1 also had smaller groups inside it. In people with moderate to severe sleep apnea, breathing pauses dropped by up to 60.6%. In people with knee osteoarthritis, a standard pain score dropped by up to 73.1%.
Side effects were mostly stomach problems: nausea, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. They were more common on higher doses. In TRIUMPH-3, 13.5% of people on 12 mg stopped because of side effects, compared with 4.8% on placebo. Our retatrutide guide has the full side effect table.
Most of these results are company announcements. TRIUMPH-1 and TRANSCEND-T2D-1 have been presented at medical meetings, and TRANSCEND-T2D-1 was published in The Lancet. Full papers for the others are still to come.
Retatrutide vs tirzepatide clinical trials
The question many people ask is whether retatrutide beats Zepbound. TRIUMPH-5 is the trial built to answer it. About 800 adults with obesity get either the highest dose of retatrutide they can tolerate or the highest dose of tirzepatide they can tolerate, and the main result is weight change at 80 weeks. ClinicalTrials.gov lists the estimated primary completion as November 2026, so results could come in 2027.
A second head-to-head, TRANSCEND-T2D-2, compares retatrutide with semaglutide (the drug in Ozempic) in people with type 2 diabetes. Its listed primary completion date was August 2026, and no results have been announced yet.
Until those results are out, any claim that one drug "beats" the other comes from comparing separate trials. Our GLP-1 medication comparison covers the approved options side by side.
Can I join a retatrutide clinical trial?
Right now there are three realistic paths. None of them is buying it online.
1. A recruiting trial. As of October 19, 2026, the Lilly phase 3 study open to new people is SYNERGY-Outcomes (NCT07165028). It tests retatrutide, tirzepatide and placebo in about 4,500 adults with a higher-risk form of fatty liver disease called MASLD. To qualify you need, among other things, liver fat of at least 8% and specific scores on liver scans and blood tests, and a BMI of 25 or more. Your doctor would need to order those tests. It runs for about 224 weeks, which is over 4 years.
2. A future trial. Lilly keeps starting new studies. Recent obesity trials have asked for:
- A BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea or heart disease
- At least one past diet attempt that did not work
- A stable weight, with no change over 11 pounds (5 kg) in the 90 days before screening
Common reasons people are turned away include type 1 diabetes, past weight loss surgery, and a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2.
3. Expanded access through your doctor. Since June 2026, Lilly has listed a single-patient expanded access program (NCT07629401). It is narrow. It is meant for adults with a BMI of 35 or more despite the highest dose of an approved weight loss drug, who also have two or more serious obesity-related illnesses and cannot get into a trial. Only your treating doctor can ask, by calling the Lilly Answers Center at 1-800-545-5979. Lilly asks patients not to call directly.
How to find retatrutide clinical trials near me
- Go to ClinicalTrials.gov.
- In the "Intervention/treatment" box, type retatrutide.
- Set the status filter to Recruiting and not yet recruiting.
- Open each study and read "Eligibility" first. If you clearly do not qualify, move on.
- Under "Contacts and Locations," find the closest site and call or email the listed contact.
- You can also check Lilly's own list at trials.lilly.com.
Company-sponsored trials like Lilly's normally provide the study drug and study visits at no cost to you. Be wary of any website that asks you to pay to "join a retatrutide trial."
What being in a trial is really like
Before you sign, know what you are agreeing to:
| What to expect | Details |
|---|---|
| Placebo chance | TRIUMPH-1 had four groups, and one got placebo |
| Time | The obesity trials above last about 65 to 125 weeks |
| Visits | Registry listings show about 18 to 30 clinic visits |
| Your choice of dose | None; the study assigns it |
| Leaving | You can leave at any time |
Ask the study team what happens when the trial ends. In most trials you stop the study drug, and weight often comes back after GLP-1 type drugs are stopped. Our guide on what the research shows about rebound explains why.
While you wait: protect your muscle
Whether you join a trial, start an approved drug or wait for retatrutide, weight loss this large raises one problem: losing muscle along with fat. Two habits help the most. Eat enough protein every day (our protein target guide shows how much) and lift a few times a week.
Sharpy turns that into one protein target, one 20-minute workout and one Shape Score a day. It is not a medical device and does not replace your doctor; it just makes the daily habits easy to keep.
The bottom line
The retatrutide clinical trials that matter for approval are done, and the numbers are strong. Most trials are no longer taking new people, so your best tools are the ClinicalTrials.gov search above and a conversation with your doctor. Products sold as retatrutide outside a trial are not approved and not checked by the FDA. Do not use them.
On any weight loss medicine, the goal is to lose fat and keep muscle. Sharpy keeps your protein, your 20-minute workout and your Shape Score in one place on your iPhone.
Sources
- ClinicalTrials.gov search: retatrutide studies (status checked October 19, 2026)
- SYNERGY-Outcomes, NCT07165028, ClinicalTrials.gov
- TRIUMPH-5, NCT06662383, ClinicalTrials.gov
- Pre-approval expanded access of retatrutide, NCT07629401, ClinicalTrials.gov
- Lilly's triple agonist, retatrutide, delivered powerful weight loss in pivotal Phase 3 obesity trial, Eli Lilly, May 21, 2026
- Retatrutide results presented at ADA 2026, Eli Lilly, June 6, 2026
- Retatrutide successful in two additional Phase 3 obesity trials, Eli Lilly, July 23, 2026
- Lilly clinical trials
Questions people ask
Can I still join a retatrutide clinical trial?
It is harder now. As of October 19, 2026, ClinicalTrials.gov lists the TRIUMPH obesity trials as completed or "active, not recruiting," which means they have all the people they need. The only Lilly phase 3 retatrutide study marked recruiting is SYNERGY-Outcomes, which is for adults with a specific, higher-risk form of fatty liver disease. New studies can open at any time, so check the registry again every few weeks.
How do I sign up for a retatrutide clinical trial near me?
Go to ClinicalTrials.gov, type "retatrutide" in the intervention box, and set the status filter to "Recruiting and not yet recruiting." Open a study, read the eligibility list, and use the contact listed for the site closest to you. Lilly also lists its studies at trials.lilly.com. Bring the study number (it starts with NCT) to your own doctor so they can help you decide.
What are the results of the retatrutide phase 3 trials?
In TRIUMPH-1, adults with obesity and no diabetes lost 28.3% of their body weight on the 12 mg dose at 80 weeks, versus 2.2% on placebo. In TRIUMPH-2 (type 2 diabetes) the top dose gave 20.8%, in TRIUMPH-3 (heart disease) 22.6%, and in TRIUMPH-4 (knee osteoarthritis) 28.7% at 68 weeks. TRANSCEND-T2D-1 lowered A1C by up to 2.0% in 40 weeks.
When will retatrutide be done with clinical trials?
The trials Lilly needs to apply for approval have reported. Lilly says it plans to submit retatrutide to the FDA in the first quarter of 2027. Other trials keep running for years after that, such as TRIUMPH-Outcomes, a heart and kidney study with a primary completion date of February 2029 on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Is there a retatrutide vs tirzepatide clinical trial?
Yes. TRIUMPH-5 (NCT06662383) compares retatrutide with tirzepatide, the drug in Zepbound and Mounjaro, in about 800 adults with obesity. It is active but no longer recruiting, and ClinicalTrials.gov lists its estimated primary completion as November 2026. No results have been released yet.
Is it safe to be in a clinical trial?
Trials have rules to protect you: an ethics board approves them, doctors check you often, and you can leave at any time. There are still risks, including side effects and the chance that you get a placebo. Read the consent form, ask the study team every question you have, and talk it over with your own doctor before you sign.