Also known as
Other names:
- LY-3437943
- Reta
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval
Retatrutide is currently not approved by the TGA as a registered medicine.
World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited List 2026
Retatrutide is not listed on the Prohibited List.
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What is it?
Retatrutide is an experimental peptide that is currently in phase III clinical trials, primarily for the management of obesity and diabetes.
It is being developed by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company and is currently not approved for therapeutic use by the TGA or any other international regulatory agency.
Unlike other GLP-1 agonists (e.g. Ozempic and Wegovy), retatrutide is classified as a triple receptor agonist that targets the GIP and glucagon receptors in addition to GLP-1.
GLP-1 agonists are currently not prohibited in sport.
Markers of semaglutide and tirzepatide, other GLP-1 agonists, are listed on the WADA Monitoring Program.
WADA monitors substances on this list, in order to detect patterns of misuse in sport.
Uses
Retatrutide is currently being investigated for its use in the treatment of obesity, with at least one weight-related medical problem such as:
- type 2 diabetes
- sleep apnoea
- knee osteoarthritis pain and;
- chronic lower back pain
How does it work?
Retatrutide is a triple receptor hormone agonist that targets the GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors.
These hormones are associated with glucose regulation, insulin secretion and hunger.
Activating these receptors have significant metabolic effects, with phase III clinical trials showing significant weight loss.
Adverse Health Effects and Risk
In clinical trials, participants predominantly experienced gastrointestinal problems including nausea, diarrhea and constipation.
The frequency of these adverse events increased with higher dosage.
Furthermore, the long-term safety profile of retatrutide has not been fully investigated and remains relatively unknown.
Counterfeit peptides, including retatrutide, are being sold online illegally.
These products are sometimes labelled as “research chemicals” or “not for human consumption”.
The purity and concentration of these counterfeit substances is often unknown and if used, may pose significant health risks.
Furthermore, there is also a possibility that these peptides are contaminated with prohibited substances, which could result in athletes committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV).
References
- Abdrabou Abouelmagd, A., Abdelrehim, A.M., Bashir, M.N., Abdelsalam, F., Marey, A., Tanas, Y., Abuklish, D.M. and Belal, M.M., 2025, May. Efficacy and safety of retatrutide, a novel GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptor agonist for obesity treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. In Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings (Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 291-303). Taylor & Francis
- Giblin, K., Kaplan, L.M., Somers, V.K., Le Roux, C.W., Hunter, D.J., Wu, Q., Lalonde, A., Ahmad, N. and Bethel, M.A., 2026. Retatrutide for the treatment of obesity, obstructive sleep apnea and knee osteoarthritis: Rationale and design of the TRIUMPH registrational clinical trials. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 28(1), pp.83-93
- Jastreboff, A.M., Kaplan, L.M., Frías, J.P., Wu, Q., Du, Y., Gurbuz, S., Coskun, T., Haupt, A., Milicevic, Z. and Hartman, M.L., 2023. Triple–hormone-receptor agonist retatrutide for obesity—a phase 2 trial. New England Journal of Medicine, 389(6), pp.514-526
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) (2026) Understanding your responsibilities when importing, compounding and supplying unapproved peptide products. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
Available at: https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/safety-monitoring-and-information/safety-alerts/understanding-your-responsibilities-when-importing-compounding-and-supplying-unapproved-peptide-products (Accessed: 6 May 2026)