From the Guidelines
Retaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, is a promising treatment for type 2 diabetes, offering benefits in glycemic control and weight management, and should be considered for patients with established cardiovascular disease or high risk of cardiorenal complications, as supported by recent guidelines 1. The medication works by mimicking the action of natural GLP-1 hormone, which stimulates insulin secretion when blood glucose is high, suppresses glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, and reduces appetite.
- Typical GLP-1 agonists are administered as injections once daily or weekly, with doses gradually increased to minimize gastrointestinal side effects.
- When approved, retaglutide would likely follow similar administration patterns.
- GLP-1 agonists are particularly beneficial for patients who need improved glycemic control while also addressing weight management, as they typically produce significant weight loss.
- Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which often improve with continued use.
- These medications are generally not first-line treatments but are considered after metformin or in combination with other antidiabetic medications.
- Patients with a history of pancreatitis, medullary thyroid cancer, or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 should avoid GLP-1 agonists.
- Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels and kidney function is essential during treatment, as emphasized in recent studies 1. The most recent and highest quality study 1 suggests that GLP-1 agonists, such as retaglutide, reduce all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) compared with usual care, making them a valuable treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes.
From the Research
Retaglutide for Type 2 Diabetes Treatment
- Retaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which has been studied for its potential in treating type 2 diabetes 2, 3, 4.
- However, the provided studies focus on retatrutide, a GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptor agonist, rather than retaglutide specifically.
- Retatrutide has shown promise in reducing plasma glucose and body weight in clinical trials, with a safety profile consistent with GLP-1 receptor agonists and GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonists 3, 4.
Comparison to Other GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
- Retatrutide may be superior to the GLP-1 receptor agonist dulaglutide in reducing plasma glucose and body weight, but its efficacy compared to other GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide is unclear 2, 3.
- Semaglutide, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, has been shown to reduce glycated hemoglobin and body weight in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, with a safety profile consistent with subcutaneous GLP-1RAs 5.
Clinical Trials and Safety
- Clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of retatrutide in reducing glycemic control and body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes, with mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal adverse events being the most common side effects 3, 4.
- Further studies are needed to compare retatrutide to other weight loss medicines, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, and to fully determine its safety and efficacy in larger and longer trials 2, 4.