Eli Lilly's Retatrutide: Limited Early Access

Eli Lilly has initiated a limited early access program for its experimental obesity drug, retatrutide. This program allows certain patients, who meet strict medical criteria and are unable to participate in clinical trials, to receive the authentic drug before its official U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. These eligible patients must be at least 18 years old and have experienced refractory obesity despite using the highest approved doses of current obesity therapies. They also need to have at least two serious or life-threatening obesity-related complications for which they are currently receiving treatment.

Retatrutide is uniquely designed to target three crucial metabolic hormones: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon. This contrasts with Lilly's existing obesity medication, Zepbound, which targets GLP-1 and GIP. Recent trial data from July 2026 indicated that the highest weekly dose of retatrutide resulted in an average weight loss of 22.6% in adults with severe obesity and existing heart disease over 80 weeks. Eli Lilly intends to submit an application for retatrutide's approval to the FDA during the first quarter of 2027.