In today’s busy world, unhealthy lifestyles and unbalanced work-life dynamics have surged diseases like obesity and diabetes to alarming levels. According to WHO, poor eating habits and lack of physical activity have made almost 1 billion people obese now. The increasing levels of these metabolic disorders raised the urgent need for effective medical treatments and interventions to help manage obesity and diabetes. Medical advancements have resulted in the development of two useful medicines: Tirzepatide and Retatrutide.
Tirzepatide and Retatrutide are two newly developed medications used primarily for managing obesity and treating type 2 diabetes. Let’s get into the depth of these two innovative medications and learn about their mechanism, clinical usage, benefits, dosage, and manufacturer.
Tirzepatide – Dual Receptor Agonist
Tirzepatide is an advanced prescription medicine used for managing weight loss and treating type 2 diabetes. It falls under the drug category that activates glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors. Under the brands Zep Bound and Mounjaro, the FDA has approved it for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and weight loss, respectively. The medicine has undergone multiple clinical trials where participants showed visible weight loss. With the highest dose, 15mg, the person lost 15.7% of their weight, which was a remarkable milestone in the history of medical science for weight loss drugs.
· Mechanism of Action
Tirzepatide acts as a dual receptor agonist by activating naturally occurring hormones GIP and GLP-1. These two receptors play an important role in blood sugar regulation and weight loss. Tirzepatide reduces food intake, decreases appetite, and slows down the flow of food from the stomach to the small intestine, which results in losing weight. On the other hand, it stimulates insulin production while inhibiting glucagon, thereby decreasing blood sugar levels and controlling and managing type 2 diabetes. It is given as a subcutaneous injection once a week to treat type 2 diabetes.
· Clinical Benefits and Usage
Diabetes Management: The FDA approved Tirzepatide in 2022 for type 2 diabetes. When used alongside proper diet and exercise, it helps decrease blood sugar levels.
Weight Loss: Recently approved in 2023 as Mounjaro for weight management, it reduces appetite, decreases meal intake, and extends satiety, which results in weight loss.
Kidney Protection: Chronic kidney problems are a common complication in type 2 diabetes and can sometimes lead to kidney failure. Tirzepatide reduces proteinuria levels without affecting the kidney and ultimately reduces kidney problems.
Relieves Sleep Apnea: According to recent research, taking Tirzepatide 10mg or 15mg for one year helps decrease the severity of sleep apnea.
· Dosage for both Weight Loss and Diabetes Type 2
Initial Dose: 2.5mg under the skin once a week (for both weight loss and type 2 diabetes)
After 4 weeks: 5mg once a week
Further Dose Increase: 2.5mg increment if required
Maximum dose: 15 mg administered subcutaneously once per week.
· About Manufacturer
Phcoker is a professional GMP-grade and reputable manufacturer of Tirzepatide. It is known for producing high-quality Tirzepatide in the form of raw Tirzepatide powder and freeze-dried Tirzepatide powder vial. Talking about Phcoker, it not only manufactures 5mg, 10mg, or 15mg, but this large-scale company produces high dosages of Tirzepatide as per the market demand. They follow innovative production techniques and stringent quality control measures that ensure the high quality and safety of their products.
Retatrutide – Triple Receptor Agonist
Retatrutide, developed by American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company, is another medicine for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, unlike Tirzepatide, which is FDA-approved, Retatrutide is still in its investigational stage – basically a phase 3 clinical trial. It is a triple hormone receptor agonist: gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and glucagon receptor agonist. This drug has shown great results in terms of weight loss, with an almost 17.5% mean weight reduction in a 24-week period in people without diabetes.
· Mechanism of action
Retatrutide is a triple hormone receptor – GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors. It affects our hunger-controlling ability and blood sugar levels by targeting all three hormones. In short, it reduces hunger, improves glucose metabolism, regulates appetite, and reduces liver fat. Have a look at how it works by targeting these three hormones:
- GIP: GIP is an incretin hormone that gets released after eating. Retatrutide stimulates beta cells, lowers appetite and blood sugar levels, and aids in weight loss.
- GLP-1: It is also an incretin hormone that stimulates beta cells to secrete insulin and lowers appetite and blood sugar levels, resulting in weight loss.
- Glucagon: It is secreted by alpha cells and stimulates glucose synthesis in the liver, promoting fat breakdown for energy and preventing low blood sugar levels.
· Clinical Use and Benefits
Weight Loss: According to the latest research, Retatrutide has shown better weight loss effects in its experimental and clinical trials compared to Tirzepatide. It targets the three hormones and aids in reducing weight by controlling hunger and blood sugar levels.
Liver Health: It significantly reduces liver fat, which helps prevent and potentially reverse liver disease, especially in obese patients.
Increased Metabolism: It easily ramps up the metabolism, which converts food into energy and prevents excess calorie storage in the form of fat. This benefit stimulates the weight loss process.
Appetite Suppression: It boasts appetite-suppressing properties that control and reduce food cravings and give a feeling of fullness. This helps people avoid overeating and maintain their dietary goals.
Cures Type 2 Diabetes: Its second phase clinical trial proved that Retatrutide reduces glycated hemoglobin levels, which plays a crucial role in managing and curing diabetes and reducing its complications.
· Dosage
Retatrutide is typically administered through injections and is available in different strengths. It is expected to be administered once weekly, but it’s crucial to follow the prescribed guidelines provided by the healthcare expert based on your weight loss goals and overall health.
· About Manufacturer
Phcoker is a professional and reputable Retatrutide manufacturer that provides Retatrutide in both powered and finished lyophilized powder in vial form. From 5 mg to 15mg, it offers all dosages along with contract manufacturing as per the need. At present, it’s in its phase 3 trial, which will end in November 2025.
Conclusion
Tirzepatide and Retatrutide are advanced medications developed to treat two of the most common health problems: obesity and type 2 diabetes. Tirzepatide, on the one hand, is a dual receptor agonist and is already FDA-approved, whereas Retatrutide is a triple receptor agonist still in its experimental phase. By understanding their mechanisms, clinical usage and benefits, dosage, and manufacturer, you can make an informed decision to cope with these health problems conveniently.
