Semaglutide vs Retatrutide
Semaglutide vs retatrutide compared head-to-head: single vs triple agonist weight-loss data, dosing and availability.
Single agonist vs triple agonist
Semaglutide acts on the GLP-1 receptor alone. Retatrutide hits GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors, combining appetite suppression with increased energy expenditure. The extra receptor coverage is what separates their weight-loss ceilings.
Expected weight loss
STEP-1 reported roughly 14.9% mean weight reduction with semaglutide 2.4 mg at 68 weeks. Retatrutide's Phase 2 reported about 24.2% at 48 weeks on 12 mg. Individual response varies widely with diet, protein intake and resistance training.
Dosing schedules
Semaglutide titrates 0.25 → 0.5 → 1.0 → 1.7 → 2.4 mg weekly, four weeks per step. Retatrutide protocols step 2 → 4 → 8 → 12 mg. Both are once-weekly subcutaneous injections that can be reconstituted from lyophilised vials for research use.
Which fits which goal
Semaglutide has the longest safety record, the widest prescriber familiarity and works well for moderate targets. Retatrutide is the aggressive option for large reductions but carries less long-term data and a higher rate of GI events at the top doses.
Frequently asked questions
Which loses more weight, semaglutide or retatrutide?
Retatrutide has produced the larger mean reduction in trials — around 24% versus about 15% for semaglutide — though the trials are separate.
Do side effects differ?
Both cause nausea and GI slowdown. Retatrutide additionally raises resting heart rate slightly through glucagon-receptor activity.