At a glance
| Question | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide | Retatrutide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receptor strategy | GLP-1 receptor agonist. | GIP + GLP-1 receptor agonist. | GIP + GLP-1 + glucagon receptor agonist. |
| Clinical maturity | Large Phase III programs and approved products for specified indications. | Large Phase III programs and approved products for specified indications. | Large clinical-development program; late-stage investigational medicine. |
| Human evidence | Extensive randomized human evidence. | Extensive randomized human evidence. | Strong emerging randomized evidence, but development and regulatory assessment are ongoing. |
| Regulatory point | Approved products exist; indication and brand matter. | Approved products exist; indication and brand matter. | Not yet an approved consumer medicine. |
| Key caution | Do not generalize one indication or formulation to every use. | Do not generalize one indication or formulation to every use. | Do not treat unapproved research-market material as equivalent to clinical-trial drug. |
What matters most
Retatrutide’s exciting trial results should not erase the most important current distinction: semaglutide and tirzepatide already have regulator-reviewed approved products, while retatrutide is still being evaluated. Evidence maturity and regulatory status matter as much as headline efficacy numbers.