Cagrilintide and retatrutide combination therapy enhances weight loss and metabolic outcomes in obese male rats
Petersen J, Merrild C, Holm SK, et al. (2026). Nature Metabolism.
Summary
Tested daily co-administration of retatrutide (a GLP-1/GIP/glucagon receptor tri-agonist) and cagrilintide (an amylin/calcitonin receptor co-agonist) in diet-induced obese male rats, against each drug alone and against matched combinations built on semaglutide or tirzepatide. The combination reduced body weight and food intake more than the comparators and improved circulating cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin. Pair-feeding and weight-matching experiments indicated the extra weight loss was not explained by reduced intake alone; plasma proteomics and brain transcriptomics were used to characterise the response. A rat study; several authors are co-founders of obesity-drug companies.