Mazdutide and retatrutide are both investigational obesity drugs that add glucagon activity to GLP-1. Mazdutide is a GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist (developed prominently in China); retatrutide is a GIP/GLP-1/glucagon triple agonist. Neither is approved.
At a glance
| Mazdutide | Retatrutide | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | GLP-1 + glucagon dual agonist | GIP + GLP-1 + glucagon triple agonist |
| FDA status | Investigational | Investigational |
| Receptors | Two (GLP-1, glucagon) | Three (GIP, GLP-1, glucagon) |
| Development focus | Obesity, diabetes (notably in China) | Obesity, metabolic disease |
| Dosing | Once weekly (in trials) | Once weekly (in trials) |
| Reported weight loss | Substantial in phase 2/3 | Largest reported in class (phase 2) |
The bottom line
Bottom line: Both recruit glucagon signaling on top of GLP-1, with retatrutide adding a third receptor (GIP) and posting the highest weight-loss figures in the class so far. Mazdutide has advanced notably in Chinese trials. Both are investigational and not available by prescription.
Frequently asked questions
What is mazdutide?
Mazdutide is an investigational GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist studied for obesity and diabetes, with prominent development in China. It is not FDA-approved.
Is retatrutide stronger than mazdutide?
Retatrutide is a triple agonist (adding GIP) and has reported the largest weight-loss numbers in this drug class, but both are investigational and direct comparisons are limited.
Are these available now?
No. Both mazdutide and retatrutide are in clinical development and are not approved or available by prescription in the US.
References
Combined peer-reviewed sources from both peptide guides. Inclusion is not endorsement.
- Ji L, Gao L, Jiang H, et al. Safety and efficacy of the GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist mazdutide (IBI362) in Chinese adults with overweight or obesity: a phase 1b trial. eClinicalMedicine. 2022. Peer-reviewed study
- Ji L, Jiang H, Cheng Z, et al. A phase 2 randomised controlled trial of mazdutide in Chinese overweight adults or adults with obesity. Nat Commun. 2023. Peer-reviewed study
- Ji L, Jiang H, Bi Y, et al. Once-Weekly Mazdutide in Chinese Adults with Obesity or Overweight. N Engl J Med. 2025. Peer-reviewed study
- Zhu D, Zhao J, Cai H, et al. Mazdutide versus placebo in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes. Nature. 2026. Peer-reviewed study
- Zhang B, Cheng Z, Chen J, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Mazdutide in Chinese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 2 Trial. Diabetes Care. 2024. Peer-reviewed study
- Shirley M. Mazdutide: First Approval. Drugs. 2025. Peer-reviewed study
- Jastreboff AM, Kaplan LM, Frias JP, et al. Triple-Hormone-Receptor Agonist Retatrutide for Obesity - A Phase 2 Trial. N Engl J Med. 2023. Peer-reviewed study
- Rosenstock J, Frias J, Jastreboff AM, et al. Retatrutide, a GIP/GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist, in people with type 2 diabetes: a randomised phase 2 trial. Lancet. 2023. Peer-reviewed study
- Katsi V, Koutsopoulos G, Fragoulis C, et al. Retatrutide-A Game Changer in Obesity Pharmacotherapy. Biomolecules. 2025. Peer-reviewed study
- Abdul-Rahman T, Roy P, Ahmed FK, et al. The power of three: Retatrutide's role in modern obesity and diabetes therapy. Eur J Pharmacol. 2024. Peer-reviewed study
- Giblin K, Kaplan LM, Somers VK, et al. Retatrutide for the treatment of obesity, obstructive sleep apnea and knee osteoarthritis: Rationale and design of the TRIUMPH registrational clinical trials. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2026. Peer-reviewed study
- Sanyal AJ, Kaplan LM, Frias JP, et al. Triple hormone receptor agonist retatrutide for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a randomized phase 2a trial. Nat Med. 2024. Peer-reviewed study