GLP-1 drugs in clinical trials and coming soon

Retatrutide

Eli Lilly · Triple agonist (GIP/GLP-1/glucagon) · Weekly injection · Phase 3

The headline name in the pipeline. Retatrutide activates GIP and GLP-1 (the two hormones tirzepatide hits) and adds glucagon. That third target can raise the body's energy use. It is a once-weekly injection.

In the phase 3 TRIUMPH-1 trial, the 12 mg dose produced an average 28.3% (about 70 lb) body-weight reduction at 80 weeks, vs 2.2% on placebo. In a blinded extension, higher-BMI participants on 12 mg reached an average 30.3% at 104 weeks, the highest average any obesity drug has reported in phase 3. The application has not been filed yet; reporting points to an NDA in late 2026 and approval estimated in 2027 to 2028.

Read the full retatrutide profile: the trial detail, a comparison table against tirzepatide and semaglutide, the timeline, and a FAQ.

Sources: Lilly TRIUMPH-1 topline, AJMC

Orforglipron (Foundayo)

Eli Lilly · Oral GLP-1 (small molecule) · Daily pill · Approved, launching

The big shift here is the pill. Orforglipron is a GLP-1 built as a small chemical molecule rather than a peptide. It works as a once-daily tablet taken any time of day with no food or water restrictions (unlike oral semaglutide).

In the phase 3 ATTAIN-1 trial, published in NEJM, the 36 mg dose produced an average 12.4% (about 27 lb) body-weight reduction vs 0.9% on placebo, with about 60% of people on the top dose losing at least 10%. The weight loss is milder than the weekly injections, the expected trade-off for a daily pill. Unlike the rest of this list, orforglipron is no longer just in clinical trials: it was approved in the United States as Foundayo on 1 April 2026 for chronic weight management and is now launching.

Sources: Lilly ATTAIN-1 topline, Pharmacy Times (approval)

CagriSema

Novo Nordisk · Amylin (cagrilintide) + GLP-1 (semaglutide) · Weekly injection · Phase 3, in review

Novo's answer to tirzepatide: two drugs in one weekly injection. It combines semaglutide (the GLP-1 in Wegovy and Ozempic) with cagrilintide (a mimic of amylin, a second appetite hormone).

In the phase 3 REDEFINE 1 trial, the top dose produced an average 20.4% body-weight reduction at 68 weeks vs 3.0% on placebo. In a head-to-head trial it reached 23.0% among people who stayed on treatment, vs 25.5% for tirzepatide. It did not meet its goal of matching tirzepatide, which tempered expectations. Novo submitted it for US review in December 2025; a decision is anticipated around late 2026.

Sources: Novo Nordisk REDEFINE, PharmExec (REDEFINE 4)

Survodutide

Boehringer Ingelheim / Zealand · Glucagon/GLP-1 dual agonist · Weekly injection · Phase 3

A once-weekly injection that activates GLP-1 plus glucagon. The glucagon component nudges energy use and liver fat. It is also being studied for liver disease, not just weight.

In the phase 3 SYNCHRONIZE-1 trial, the 6.0 mg dose produced an average 16.6% body-weight reduction over 76 weeks vs 3.2% on placebo (85% of treated participants lost at least 5%). The phase 3 readout came in April 2026. Submission and approval timing are not confirmed; any approval is estimated no earlier than 2027.

Sources: Zealand / Boehringer SYNCHRONIZE-1, Fierce Biotech

Amycretin

Novo Nordisk · GLP-1 + amylin (one molecule) · Weekly injection and daily pill · Phase 3

Novo's next-generation play: a single molecule that activates both GLP-1 and amylin (the two pathways CagriSema covers with two separate drugs), developed as both a weekly injection and a daily pill.

In an early phase 1b/2a study in The Lancet, the injectable produced an estimated 24.3% body-weight reduction at 36 weeks vs about 1% on placebo. An early oral study showed about 13% at 12 weeks. These are small early-phase numbers; read them as promising signals rather than confirmed results. Phase 3 began enrolling in February 2026. The primary readout is registered around 2029 and approval is well after.

Sources: The Lancet (phase 1b/2a), Novo Nordisk phase 3 advance

MariTide

Amgen · GLP-1 agonist + GIP antagonist · Monthly injection · Phase 3

MariTide takes an unusual approach: it activates GLP-1 but blocks GIP, the opposite of tirzepatide. It is built as a long-acting antibody-peptide conjugate. It can be dosed monthly with quarterly dosing also being studied. For people who dislike weekly shots, that cadence is the headline.

In its phase 2 study, published in NEJM, MariTide produced up to about 20% average weight loss at 52 weeks in people without type 2 diabetes. Weight loss had not plateaued. The phase 3 MARITIME program is enrolling; approval is estimated around 2027 to 2028.

Sources: Amgen phase 2 (ADA 2025), HCPLive

Elecoglipron

AstraZeneca · Oral GLP-1 (small molecule) · Daily pill · Phase 2, to phase 3

Another once-daily oral GLP-1 small molecule, in the same convenience category as orforglipron (in-licensed from Eccogene; AstraZeneca spells it elecoglipron). Both of its phase 2 trials met their primary endpoints, in obesity and in type 2 diabetes.

AstraZeneca has not released specific percent weight-loss figures yet and said detailed data would come at the American Diabetes Association meeting in June 2026. A full phase 3 program is slated to start in 2026. Approval is several years out.

Sources: Fierce Biotech, Clinical Trials Arena

Danuglipron (discontinued)

Pfizer · Oral GLP-1 · Daily pill · Discontinued

Not every candidate makes it. Danuglipron was Pfizer's oral GLP-1 pill. Pfizer discontinued the program in April 2025 after a case of drug-induced liver injury and liver-enzyme elevations, combined with regulatory feedback. The weight-loss data had been meaningful; the decision was about safety. It will not come to market.

Sources: Pfizer press release, STAT