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Comparison

Retatrutide vs Survodutide

Both are GLP-1 & incretins, so the meaningful differences are in kinetics, evidence and regulatory status.

Retatrutide Survodutide
Class GLP-1 & incretins GLP-1 & incretins
Evidence Clinical trials Clinical trials
Human trials ~8 ~6
Half-life ~6 days ~6-7 days
Reported range 1-12 mg 800 mcg - 6 mg
Frequency Once weekly (trial protocols) Once weekly (trial protocols)
Routes Subcutaneous Subcutaneous
FDA approved No No
Research use only Yes Yes
Banned in sport No No
Studied for Investigational obesity treatment, Type 2 diabetes research, NAFLD research Investigational MASH treatment, Obesity research
Reported side effects Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Increased heart rate, Constipation Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Increased heart rate

Retatrutide

Retatrutide adds glucagon receptor agonism to the GIP and GLP-1 activity of tirzepatide. Glucagon receptor signalling raises energy expenditure and promotes hepatic fat oxidation, which is the proposed reason phase II results exceeded what incretin action alone produces. The phase II trial reported mean weight reduction of around 24% at 48 weeks on the highest dose. As of 2026 it is in Phase 3 (the TRIUMPH program) and is not FDA approved, so no regulatory conclusion on efficacy or safety has been reached.

Survodutide

Survodutide agonises both the glucagon receptor and the GLP-1 receptor, without the GIP activity of tirzepatide. The glucagon component increases energy expenditure and hepatic fat oxidation, which is why its most advanced programme is in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis rather than obesity alone. Phase II data reported meaningful improvement in liver fibrosis endpoints alongside weight reduction.

Retatrutide vs Survodutide: common questions

What is the difference between Retatrutide and Survodutide?

Both are GLP-1 & incretins. Retatrutide: An investigational triple agonist at GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, in Phase 3 trials and not FDA approved. Survodutide: An investigational dual glucagon and GLP-1 receptor agonist, studied heavily in metabolic liver disease.

Which has stronger evidence, Retatrutide or Survodutide?

They sit at the same evidence level: clinical trials. Retatrutide has about 8 human studies and Survodutide about 6.

Are Retatrutide and Survodutide FDA approved?

Neither is FDA approved for any indication.

References

Regulatory and primary sources

  1. PubChem compound record (CID 171390338) ↗ · structure, identifiers, synonyms
  2. FDA: Unapproved drugs and "research use only" products ↗ · regulatory status of non-approved products
  3. PubChem compound record (CID 171378821) ↗ · structure, identifiers, synonyms

Published literature

  1. Jastreboff AM, Kaplan LM, Frías JP, et al.. Triple-Hormone-Receptor Agonist Retatrutide for Obesity - A Phase 2 Trial.N Engl J Med 2023.PubMed 37366315 · doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2301972
  2. Sanyal AJ, Kaplan LM, Frias JP, et al.. Triple hormone receptor agonist retatrutide for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a randomized phase 2a trial.Nat Med 2024.PubMed 38858523 · doi:10.1038/s41591-024-03018-2
  3. Misra S, Narayan RK, Kaur M. Efficacy and safety of retatrutide for the treatment of obesity: a systematic review of clinical trials.J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2025.PubMed 40728138 · doi:10.1515/jbcpp-2025-0113
  4. Katsi V, Koutsopoulos G, Fragoulis C, et al.. Retatrutide-A Game Changer in Obesity Pharmacotherapy.Biomolecules 2025.PubMed 40563436 · doi:10.3390/biom15060796
  5. Locatelli JC, Costa JG, Haynes A, et al.. Incretin-Based Weight Loss Pharmacotherapy: Can Resistance Exercise Optimize Changes in Body Composition?.Diabetes Care 2024.PubMed 38687506 · doi:10.2337/dci23-0100
  6. Moiz A, Filion KB, Toutounchi H, et al.. Efficacy and Safety of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Loss Among Adults Without Diabetes : A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.Ann Intern Med 2025.PubMed 39761578 · doi:10.7326/ANNALS-24-01590
  7. Panou T, Gouveri E, Popovic DS, et al.. Retatrutide in type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity: an overview.Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2026.PubMed 41785010 · doi:10.1080/17512433.2026.2642415
  8. Drucker DJ. Efficacy and Safety of GLP-1 Medicines for Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity.Diabetes Care 2024.PubMed 38843460 · doi:10.2337/dci24-0003
  9. Sanyal AJ, Bedossa P, Fraessdorf M, et al.. A Phase 2 Randomized Trial of Survodutide in MASH and Fibrosis.N Engl J Med 2024.PubMed 38847460 · doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2401755
  10. Sinha B, Ghosal S. Efficacy and Safety of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists, Dual Agonists, and Retatrutide for Weight Loss in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: A Bayesian NMA.Obesity (Silver Spring) 2025.PubMed 40685589 · doi:10.1002/oby.24360
  11. le Roux CW, Steen O, Lucas KJ, et al.. Glucagon and GLP-1 receptor dual agonist survodutide for obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding phase 2 trial.Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2024.PubMed 38330987 · doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(23)00356-X
  12. Newsome PN, Loomba R. Therapeutic horizons in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.J Clin Invest 2025.PubMed 40590228 · doi:10.1172/JCI186425
  13. Kokkorakis M, Chakhtoura M, Rhayem C, et al.. Emerging pharmacotherapies for obesity: A systematic review.Pharmacol Rev 2025.PubMed 39952695 · doi:10.1124/pharmrev.123.001045
  14. Souza M, Al-Sharif L, Antunes VLJ, et al.. Comparison of pharmacological therapies in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis for fibrosis regression and MASH resolution: Systematic review and network meta-analysis.Hepatology 2025.PubMed 39903735 · doi:10.1097/HEP.0000000000001254
  15. Singh A, Sohal A, Batta A. GLP-1, GIP/GLP-1, and GCGR/GLP-1 receptor agonists: Novel therapeutic agents for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.World J Gastroenterol 2024.PubMed 39735270 · doi:10.3748/wjg.v30.i48.5205

Literature retrieved from PubMed on October 16, 2026, favouring human studies and reviews. Numbered markers in the text show which paper supports which statement; uncited entries are background reading.

Read this first This page compares published reference data. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation to use either compound. Several compounds documented on this site are not approved for human use.