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Retatrutide vs Tirzepatide: triple agonist vs Mounjaro, head-to-head

Retatrutide and Tirzepatide compared for Philippine readers: what their trials found, the side effects they reported, and where each stands with regulators.

Philippines Peptides editorial deskUpdated 8 min read

Video guide: Retatrutide vs Tirzepatide vs Semaglutide (2:18)
Video transcript

Retatrutide, tirzepatide or semaglutide? Three generations of GLP-1 research, compared for the Philippines. Semaglutide acts on one receptor, GLP-1. Tirzepatide adds GIP. Retatrutide adds glucagon: three. Phase 3, top arm: semaglutide, 14.9% in STEP 1. Tirzepatide, 20.9 in SURMOUNT-1. Retatrutide, 28.3 in TRIUMPH-1. Separate trials, different people, no head-to-head yet. TRIUMPH-5, retatrutide against tirzepatide, has not read out. Stopping for side effects, top arm: 5.9% on semaglutide, 6.2 on tirzepatide, 11.3 on retatrutide. Nausea led: 53.3% on semaglutide, 42.4 on retatrutide, and TRIUMPH-1 reported dysesthesia in 12.5. Here, semaglutide is registered as Ozempic and Wegovy, tirzepatide as Mounjaro, both prescription only. Retatrutide is registered nowhere. Prescribing belongs with a licensed Philippine physician. Next: Lilly plans retatrutide's US filing for early 2027, CagriSema is under FDA review, and mazdutide is approved in China. All three also come as research vials: not the same product, not approved for human use, and sold for research only. Our partner and supplier, Primara Labs, lists all three as 15 mg vials. Retatrutide: [₱3,390 for the 20 mg vial], or [₱2,076] in a 10 pack. About ₱199 per mg, or ₱122 in a 10 pack. A 20 mg vial is now listed at ₱3,390. Every order includes bacteriostatic water, syringes and alcohol pads, ships same day in Metro Manila before noon, and has a 60-day money-back guarantee. Read the full comparison on Philippines Peptides, then see retatrutide at Primara Labs and order on WhatsApp. [Figures in square brackets corrected on 3 November 2026 from Primara's current catalogue: the narration gives the price of the 15 mg retatrutide vial, retired on 12 October 2026.]

Part of: Retatrutide in the Philippines

Reta, TRIUMPH-1Phase 3, 12 mg arm, 80 wk
28.3%
Tirz, SURMOUNT-1Phase 3, 15 mg arm, 72 wk
20.9%
Reta receptors
3
Tirz receptors
2

Sourcing note: retatrutide is investigational and approved nowhere. Primara Labs, our partner and supplier, holds research vials inside the Philippines; vials are batch-numbered, and delivery is same day for Metro Manila orders placed before 12 noon. Order retatrutide 20mg

Quick comparison

Both molecules belong to the same incretin class but activate a different number of receptors. Tirzepatide hits two (GLP-1 + GIP). Retatrutide hits three (GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon). That single extra receptor changes the entire metabolic profile, and the size of the weight loss curve.

FactorRetatrutideTirzepatide
MechanismGLP-1 + GIP + GlucagonGLP-1 + GIP
Receptors32
Mean weight loss, largest arm28.3% at 80 wk, 12 mg arm (TRIUMPH-1, phase 3); 24.2% at 48 wk, 12 mg arm (Jastreboff et al., phase 2)20.9% at 72 wk, 15 mg arm (SURMOUNT-1, phase 3)
Pivotal trialTRIUMPH programSURMOUNT program
Half-life~6 days~5 days
FDA statusPhase 3Approved 2022/2023
PH availabilityNot registered; no pharmacy supplyMounjaro, by prescription

Short answer for Philippines buyers

No trial has compared the two directly, and the trials above enrolled different populations over different lengths of time. Which medicine suits a given person is a decision for a licensed Philippine physician.

How they actually work

GLP-1 and GIP (the two receptors tirzepatide targets) primarily work on appetite and insulin response. They signal satiety to the brain, slow gastric emptying, and improve glucose disposal.

Retatrutide adds the glucagon receptor, the one tirzepatide does not target. Glucagon acts on the liver and on energy expenditure. How much of retatrutide's trial result comes from the glucagon component has not been separated out in a human trial.

Efficacy head-to-head

In TRIUMPH-1, an 80-week phase 3 trial of 2,339 adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, without diabetes, body weight fell by 19%, 25.9% and 28.3% on the 4 mg, 9 mg and 12 mg arms, against 2.2% on placebo. Source

In Retatrutide phase 2 (Jastreboff), a 48-week phase 2 trial of 338 adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 to under 30 with at least one weight-related condition, body weight fell by 8.7%, 17.1%, 22.8% and 24.2% on the 1 mg, 4 mg (pooled), 8 mg (pooled) and 12 mg arms, against 2.1% on placebo. Source

In SURMOUNT-1, a 72-week phase 3 trial of 2,539 adults with BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one weight-related complication, excluding diabetes, body weight fell by 15%, 19.5% and 20.9% on the 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg arms, against 3.1% on placebo. Source

Side effect profile

In TRIUMPH-1, an 80-week phase 3 trial of 2,339 adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, without diabetes, retatrutide reported nausea: 28.6%, 38.4% and 42.4% on the 4, 9 and 12 mg arms, against 14.8% on placebo. Discontinuation for adverse events: 4.1%, 6.9% and 11.3% on the 4, 9 and 12 mg arms, against 4.9% on placebo. Source

In SURMOUNT-1, a 72-week phase 3 trial of 2,539 adults with BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one weight-related complication, excluding diabetes, tirzepatide reported discontinuation for adverse events: 4.3%, 7.1% and 6.2% on the 5, 10 and 15 mg arms, against 2.6% on placebo. Source

Cost in the Philippines

Retatrutide is not registered as a medicine anywhere, so no pharmacy sells it. Mounjaro is a registered prescription medicine; its dated pharmacy prices are on the Mounjaro page.

Prescription only; prescribing belongs with a licensed Philippine physician. Trials and side effects: the tirzepatide guide. The law: regulation hub.

Frequently asked questions

Is tirzepatide better than retatrutide?

They are at different stages. Tirzepatide is approved by the US FDA (Mounjaro, Zepbound) and registered in the Philippines as Mounjaro; retatrutide is investigational and approved nowhere. No trial has compared the two head to head. In TRIUMPH-1, an 80-week phase 3 trial of 2,339 adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, without diabetes, body weight fell by 19%, 25.9% and 28.3% on the 4 mg, 9 mg and 12 mg arms, against 2.2% on placebo. In SURMOUNT-1, a 72-week phase 3 trial of 2,539 adults with BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one weight-related complication, excluding diabetes, body weight fell by 15%, 19.5% and 20.9% on the 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg arms, against 3.1% on placebo. The trials enrolled different populations over different lengths of time, so the figures are not a direct comparison.

Which is stronger, retatrutide or tirzepatide?

No head-to-head trial exists. In TRIUMPH-1, an 80-week phase 3 trial of 2,339 adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, without diabetes, body weight fell by 19%, 25.9% and 28.3% on the 4 mg, 9 mg and 12 mg arms, against 2.2% on placebo. In Retatrutide phase 2 (Jastreboff), a 48-week phase 2 trial of 338 adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 to under 30 with at least one weight-related condition, body weight fell by 8.7%, 17.1%, 22.8% and 24.2% on the 1 mg, 4 mg (pooled), 8 mg (pooled) and 12 mg arms, against 2.1% on placebo. In SURMOUNT-1, a 72-week phase 3 trial of 2,539 adults with BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one weight-related complication, excluding diabetes, body weight fell by 15%, 19.5% and 20.9% on the 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg arms, against 3.1% on placebo. Retatrutide also acts on the glucagon receptor, which tirzepatide does not.

Is retatrutide FDA approved?

No. The US FDA status is investigational. Sponsor plans a US Biologics License Application submission in Q1 2027 (Eli Lilly press release dated 23 July 2026.).

How much does retatrutide cost in the Philippines?

Retatrutide is not registered as a medicine anywhere, so there is no pharmacy price. Our partner and supplier lists research-grade retatrutide 20mg at PHP 3,775 a vial, or PHP 3,390 with the standing 10% off. It is research material, not a pharmacy product.

Updated