Summary
- GLP-3 is not a recognised medical term and not a new hormone.
- The name is used online as a nickname for retatrutide.
- Retatrutide acts on three hormone receptors at once: GLP-1, GIP and glucagon.
- Retatrutide is still an investigational drug and has not been approved for general use.
- Research so far shows substantial weight loss, but its safety is still being studied.
- Products sold online as GLP-3 or retatrutide are not controlled and can be dangerous. Want to lose weight with medical support? Get guidance from a doctor and only use approved prescription medication.
"GLP-3, is that the successor to Ozempic?" You are not the only one asking. On social media and in the news, GLP-3 is increasingly being talked about as the next big weight-loss drug. The short answer: GLP-3 does not exist as a medicine or as a new class of hormone. It is a nickname for retatrutide, a promising substance that is still being studied for the treatment of overweight and obesity. In this blog you will learn where the name comes from, what retatrutide does and why you should not buy products offered online as GLP-3.
What is GLP-3?
If you search for GLP-3, you will quickly end up at retatrutide. Still, it is important to make a clear distinction: there is no medicine and no natural hormone officially called GLP-3. The term arose because retatrutide acts not on 1 but on 3 hormone receptors. Eli Lilly, the developer of retatrutide, itself calls GLP-3 a scientifically inaccurate nickname. The correct term is triple agonist. In clinical trials, retatrutide is injected under the skin once a week. It activates three receptors:
- the GLP-1 receptor
- the GIP receptor
- the glucagon receptor You can read more background on this drug on our page about retatrutide.
Why retatrutide is getting so much attention
Retatrutide works differently from drugs that only act on the GLP-1 receptor. GLP-1 and GIP play a role in feeling full and regulating blood sugar. Glucagon also affects metabolism and energy use. That combination is exactly what makes retatrutide interesting for treating obesity. The first results from large phase 3 trials are striking. According to Lilly, participants in the TRIUMPH-1 trial on the highest dose of 12 mg lost an average of 28.3% of their body weight after 80 weeks. In TRIUMPH-2, in adults with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes, the average was 20.8%. These are averages from research under strict medical supervision. Individual results vary widely, and strong research results do not yet mean a drug is safe or suitable for everyone.
Is GLP-3 or retatrutide already available?
No. Retatrutide has not yet been approved by any regulator, including the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Lilly states that the drug is only legally available to participants in its own clinical trials. When retatrutide comes to market depends on the completion of ongoing trials and the review by regulators. They look not only at how well it works, but also at safety, side effects and quality. Until then, retatrutide is promising research, not an available treatment.
Why buying GLP-3 online is a bad idea
The popularity of weight-loss medication has led black market sellers to cleverly use terms like GLP-3 and retatrutide. Lilly is clear: anything sold to consumers outside the clinical trials is illegal. With an uncontrolled product, you do not know:
- what substance it really contains
- how much active ingredient it contains
- whether the product is sterile
- how it was made, stored and shipped
- whether the dose on the label is correct
The consequences are also visible in the Netherlands. The Dutch Poisons Information Centre (NVIC) is seeing a sharp rise in poisonings with illegal weight-loss drugs, including retatrutide. The Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) takes action against webshops selling these products. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the US FDA also warn against falsified and unapproved products. Read more about the risks of illegally purchased weight-loss medication.
In short: the name GLP-3 on a package says nothing about the quality or safety of what is inside.
GLP-3, Wegovy and Mounjaro: what is the difference?
These names are often mixed up online, but they work differently:
- Wegovy (semaglutide) acts on the GLP-1 receptor.
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide) acts on the GLP-1 and GIP receptors.
- Retatrutide acts on the GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors. Wegovy and Mounjaro are approved medicines that a doctor can prescribe. Retatrutide is not yet. Want to know more about the differences? Read our blog Wat is het verschil tussen Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic en Saxenda?
What does this mean for you if you want to lose weight?
If you have been trying to lose weight for a long time, it is tempting to look for the newest drug. But new is not automatically better or safer. Medical weight loss is about more than kilos: your health, medical history, eating habits, lifestyle and keeping your muscle mass all matter.
That is why at The Body Clinic a doctor first looks at your personal situation before deciding together which treatment fits. You can read what such a programme looks like inMedical weight loss: a sustainable solution.
Our conclusion: GLP-3 is mainly a name
GLP-3 sounds like the next generation of weight-loss medication, but it is an informal nickname for retatrutide. The research results are promising, but retatrutide is not yet approved and cannot be bought legally. Products sold online under this name are not a controlled medical treatment. Want to get started responsibly now? Do not turn to experimental drugs from the internet, but work out with a doctor what suits you. Take a look at our information on medical weight loss or book a consultation with one of our doctors.
*The information in this blog is general information and does not replace personal medical advice. The availability and registration of medicines may change. Always discuss questions about weight-loss medication with a doctor.
