Truth behind controversial new weight loss jab 'Reta' that's said to be 3 times stronger than Ozempic
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Here's the truth behind the controversial new weight loss jab known as 'Reta' that is said to be three times stronger than Ozempic.
There are many ways to shed the pounds in 2025, from the old school method of dieting and exercise to the extreme with weight loss pills and even surgery.
Ozempic, an injection marketed for people with type 2 diabetes to help them manage their blood sugar levels, has become popular in recent years amongst those hoping to lose weight.
Known as semaglutide, the drug was approved in 2017 by the US Food and Drug Aministration (FDA) to help diabetics.
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Ozempic has had competition in recent months, however, as weight loss drugs become increasingly popular across the US.
'Reta' actually comes from the same manufacturers of Mounjaro, and the fact it is three times stronger than Ozempic has made it popular.
However, the drug, also known as Retatrutide, is not approved for use - which could be a cause for concern in terms of safety.
As a result, experts are issuing a warning to its users.
Dr Helen Wall told Metro: "The issue is, we don’t really know what the risks are and we don’t know the dosing either. It’s certainly not just a stronger version of Ozempic and Mounjaro. It’s working on a different pathway, so that needs exploration in terms of, what the safety is, what the risks are and what the side effects are.
"It’s been developed by Eli Lilly, who are a reputable, well known pharmaceutical company, so ultimately, it may well end up on the market, but at the moment it’s still in clinical trials."
Speaking of the drug, Eli Lily, the makers of the new weight loss drug, said: "Retatrutide is an investigational molecule that Lilly is studying for the treatment of obesity – it is in phase 3 clinical trials and is not available to patients outside of these trials. Retatrutide has not been reviewed or approved by the FDA, EMA, or any regulatory agency anywhere in the world, and therefore at this time no one can sell retatrutide for human use.
"Any product falsely representing itself as a Lilly investigational product not yet approved by the FDA, like retatrutide, may expose patients to potentially serious health risks.
“Lilly aims to take all necessary actions to safeguard public health. We continue to support international educational efforts by joining forces with non-governmental organisations such as the World Health Organisation, World Health Professionals Association and World Customs Organisation, to warn patients and healthcare professionals about the dangers of buying medicines from unregulated outlets.”