How to read this chart
Each bar shows the approximate mean placebo-adjusted weight loss reported at the primary endpoint of the highest tested dose in each trial. Bars are sorted from largest to smallest effect. The retatrutide bar is highlighted because that is this site's primary focus, not because it is necessarily superior — head-to-head comparisons do not exist.
Why cross-trial isn't apples-to-apples
Comparing weight-loss numbers across separate trials is the only comparison currently possible for most of these drugs, but it has real limits:
- Trial duration varies from 46 to 72 weeks. Most weight-loss curves continue downward through the primary endpoint, so longer trials would have shown larger numbers for shorter-trial drugs.
- Populations differ by baseline BMI, comorbidities, and geography. Trials in Chinese populations (e.g., GLORY-1 mazdutide) typically show different baseline characteristics than US/EU trials.
- Titration schedules differ. Slower escalation often yields better tolerability but slightly less weight loss at the same time point.
- Phase 2 numbers may regress in Phase 3. Retatrutide and survodutide are still in Phase 2 in this chart; their numbers may move when Phase 3 readouts land.
What the chart actually says
The pattern that emerges is consistent with mechanism: drugs hitting more receptors generally produce larger weight loss. Single-receptor GLP-1 drugs (semaglutide, liraglutide, oral orforglipron) cluster lower; dual agonists (tirzepatide GLP-1/GIP, survodutide and mazdutide GLP-1/glucagon) sit in the middle; and the triple agonist retatrutide sits at the top.
Cagrilintide + semaglutide (CagriSema), which uses an amylin analog rather than a glucagon agonist as its second mechanism, is the notable exception that sits near the top of the chart with a different receptor mix.
Update history
- April 2026 — Added orforglipron ATTAIN-1 topline. Refreshed CagriSema REDEFINE 1 numbers.
- February 2026 — Added mazdutide GLORY-1 Phase 3 readout.
- October 2025 — Initial publication.