Eli Lilly and Company has announced positive topline results from TRANSCEND-T2D-1, a phase-III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of retatrutide, an investigational first-in-class GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon triple hormone receptor agonist, as an adjunct to diet and exercise. The trial enrolled adults diagnosed with type-II diabetes with inadequate glycemic control with diet and exercise alone, and a mean duration of diabetes of 2.5 years.

In the study, retatrutide met the primary and all key secondary endpoints, delivering superior A1C reduction and weight loss at 40 weeks compared to placebo, using both the efficacy and treatment-regimen estimands. For the primary endpoint, participants taking retatrutide achieved average A1C reductions of up to two percent, using the efficacy estimand.

For a key secondary endpoint, participants taking retatrutide lost up to an average of 36.6 lbs (16.8 percent), using the efficacy estimand. Weight loss continued through the end of the treatment period.

"For many people with type-II diabetes, it is a struggle to achieve both A1C control and weight loss, since obesity has historically been harder to treat for those with type-II diabetes. With triple agonist retatrutide, we set out to make a molecule that could help patients achieve substantial A1C reduction and weight loss. These results support the remarkable potential of this novel molecule for people living with type-II diabetes, with up to two percent A1C improvement and nearly 17 percent weight loss in 40 weeks of treatment," said Kenneth Custer, PhD, Executive Vice President and President, Lilly Cardiometabolic Health.

Retatrutide also showed clinically meaningful improvements from baseline across key cardiovascular risk factors, including non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure.

Detailed TRANSCEND-T2D-1 results will be presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in June and published in a peer-reviewed journal. Additional results from the retatrutide clinical trial programme are expected over the next year.