Retatrutide is a triple hormone (GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon) receptor agonist in development for the treatment of obesity. Retatrutide works in the treatment of obesity by targeting three different hunger regulating hormones:
– GIP (gastric inhibitory peptide or glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) is an incretin hormone that is released from the gut after eating. It stimulates the beta-cells in the pancreas to secrete insulin.
– GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is also an incretin hormone that stimulates the beta-cells to secrete insulin.
– Glucagon is a hormone secreted from the alpha-cells in the pancreas. It stimulates glucose production in the liver and helps maintain adequate plasma glucose concentrations.
The drug has been nicknamed ‘triple G’ because it is an agonist of all three receptors.
