Research At a Glance
- Research Category
- Metabolic & Incretin Signaling Research
- Peptide Length
- 39 amino acids (triple GIP/GLP-1/glucagon agonist)
- Purity
- ≥ 99% (HPLC)
- Published Studies
- ~160 indexed
- Storage
- Lyophilized: −20 °C long term, 2–8 °C short term. Reconstituted: 2–8 °C, use within 30 days.
Published-study figures are approximate PubMed result counts and indicate the volume of available literature only. Purity reflects third-party analytical testing on the corresponding lot; see the Quality Assurance Center for lot-matched certificates.
What Is Retatrutide?
Retatrutide (development code LY3437943) is a synthetic 39-amino-acid peptide studied as a triple receptor agonist, engaging GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptor pathways simultaneously. This distinguishes it from single-target compounds and from dual-agonist molecules, giving researchers a model for studying combined incretin and glucagon receptor signaling in a single compound.
Why Researchers Study It
Retatrutide's three-pathway mechanism makes it a subject of interest for laboratory investigation into:
- Metabolic pathway modeling — how simultaneous activation of multiple receptor systems affects energy balance signaling compared to single- or dual-agonist models
- Receptor binding and signaling studies — comparative receptor activity and structure-activity relationships across the GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptor families
- Comparative peptide research — benchmarking against other incretin-pathway compounds to understand mechanistic differences
What the Published Literature Shows
The most widely cited data on retatrutide comes from a Phase 2 trial by Jastreboff et al., published in the New England Journal of Medicine in June 2023. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 338 adults with obesity (or overweight with a related condition) and evaluated several dose levels of the compound over a 48-week period.
At the study's highest dose level, participants showed substantially greater reductions in body weight than the placebo group by both the 24- and 48-week marks, with the effect size scaling with dose. Researchers have noted the magnitude of the response as notable relative to earlier single- and dual-receptor agonist compounds studied in the same population. The most frequently reported adverse events were gastrointestinal in nature and were consistent with the broader incretin-receptor-agonist drug class, typically occurring during dose escalation.
This trial is frequently used as a reference point by researchers designing in vitro and analytical studies on multi-receptor incretin pathway signaling.
Source
Jastreboff AM, Kaplan LM, Frías JP, et al. Triple–Hormone-Receptor Agonist Retatrutide for Obesity — A Phase 2 Trial. N Engl J Med. 2023;389(6):514-526. View on NEJM
Compound Specifications
| Classification | Synthetic peptide, triple receptor agonist |
|---|---|
| Molecular target | GLP-1R, GIPR, GCGR |
| Format | Lyophilized powder |
| Purity | ≥99% (HPLC-verified per lot) |
| Storage | −20°C; refrigerate 2–8°C after laboratory handling |
| Development code | LY3437943 |
Certificate of Analysis
Every lot is independently tested and lot-matched. View Certificates of Analysis