Eli Lilly says it will file for approval of next-generation obesity drug in 2027 as it clears two more trials - CNBC

What the report says

CNBC reported that Eli Lilly plans to seek regulatory approval for retatrutide, its next-generation obesity medicine, in the first quarter of 2027 after the drug met goals in two additional Phase 3 studies. The company had earlier indicated it could file as soon as this year, but told CNBC it needs more time to compile and validate manufacturing and quality-control information required for regulators.

According to CNBC, the weekly injectable treatment produced substantial weight loss and improved a key blood-sugar measure in adults with obesity who also had Type 2 diabetes or established cardiovascular disease. In one trial, participants with obesity and diabetes lost as much as 20.8% of body weight on average, or nearly 50 pounds, after 80 weeks. In another, adults with severe obesity and cardiovascular disease lost up to 22.6% on average, or 55.8 pounds, over the same period. Lilly also said some cardiovascular risk factors improved.

The company now has positive data from five late-stage trials of retatrutide, CNBC reported. Kenneth Custer, president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, said the data support global filings for obesity and potential uses including knee osteoarthritis pain and obstructive sleep apnea. Reported side effects were similar to earlier retatrutide studies and the broader GLP-1 drug class, with diarrhea, nausea and constipation among the most common.

Retatrutide is viewed as an important follow-up to Lilly’s Zepbound and its newer obesity pill, Foundayo, as the company competes with Novo Nordisk in the fast-growing weight-loss and diabetes market. Unlike current drugs that target one or two hormone pathways, retatrutide acts on GLP-1, GIP and glucagon, a design analysts see as potentially more powerful for appetite and weight control.