Eli Lilly Expands Early Access to Unapproved Weight Loss Drug Retatrutide Amid Rising Demand
Eli Lilly announced it will broaden early access to Retatrutide, an investigational weight loss drug showing unprecedented results in clinical trials with an average body weight reduction of about 28%. Although the drug is expected to reach the market only by late 2027, it has already generated significant interest and a black market for counterfeit versions. Recently, a 79-year-old patient receiving the drug under a "compassionate use" program made headlines due to speculation that he resembled former U.S. President Donald Trump, a claim denied by the White House.
Following increased requests from physicians to provide the drug to patients before official approval, Eli Lilly will now allow a limited group of patients meeting specific medical criteria, such as severe obesity with at least two serious obesity-related complications who have not responded to existing high-dose treatments, to access Retatrutide through a structured early access program coordinated with the FDA. This program replaces the previous compassionate use pathway.
Retatrutide has demonstrated not only high average weight loss but also strong response rates: 100% of patients lost at least 5% of their body weight, 93% lost 10% or more, and 83% lost at least 15%. This positions the drug as a potentially transformative treatment for obesity.
In related health news, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy unexpectedly urged parents to vaccinate their children against measles amid a surge in cases, reversing his previous vaccine skepticism. Meanwhile, Israeli medical technology company ResQ Medical has begun a clinical trial for a novel device to treat postpartum hemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. Additionally, Israeli AI company Quant Health raised $45 million to accelerate clinical trial simulations, and the ARC innovation arm of Sheba Medical Center is partnering with Israel's Ministry of Welfare to implement social welfare initiatives with a $25 million investment.
