WEIGHT & METABOLIC COMPARISON
Retatrutide, Tirzepatide, and Cagrilintide are the leading peptides studied for weight and metabolic research. All three work on the body's fullness signals—the incretins are the gut hormones that tell the brain a meal has landed—but they differ in which signals they hit, how far along the evidence is, and what they are studied for. Compare them side by side.
COMPARE THE PROFILES
Highlight one compound to see its relative profile across the key research dimensions. Bars reflect studied research emphasis and evidence stage, not a guarantee of results.
Dual Agonist
A dual agonist—it switches on two fullness receptors, GIP and GLP-1—and an FDA-approved medication in its clinical formulations. The most clinically established of the three, studied for weight, glucose, and body composition.
Triple Agonist
A triple GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon agonist reporting the largest weight-loss effects of the three in trials. Phase 3 complete (not yet approved), with roughly two years of research-market use.
Amylin Agonist
Studied for fullness, but through a separate route: it works on the amylin pathway rather than the incretins, which is why it is researched as a partner to GLP-1 compounds rather than a replacement. Phase 3 data reported, but real-world use is still developing.
WHAT THE TRIALS SHOWED
The cleanest single comparison across the incretin class: average weight loss reported in each compound’s trials over a comparable 68–72 week window, at the maximum single-compound dose.
| Compound | Trial | Duration | Average weight loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cagrilintide 2.4mg | REDEFINE-1 (Cagrilintide alone) | 68 weeks | −11.8% |
| Semaglutide 2.4mg | STEP 1 | 68 weeks | −14.9% |
| Tirzepatide 15mg | SURMOUNT-1 | 72 weeks | −20.9% |
| Retatrutide 12mg | TRIUMPH-4 (Phase 3) | 68 weeks | −28.7% |
These are separate trials with different populations, so the numbers are not a perfect head-to-head.
The one direct comparison that exists points the same way: in SURMOUNT-5, Tirzepatide beat Semaglutide −20.2% to −13.7% at 72 weeks. Retatrutide’s longer TRIUMPH-1 trial reached an average of −30.3% at the highest dose by 104 weeks.
Cagrilintide’s modest solo number is not its whole story. It is studied primarily as a partner to GLP-1 compounds, and the CagriSema combination (with Semaglutide) reached −22.7% in the same REDEFINE-1 trial.
Semaglutide appears here because it is the compound most people know. BLP does not carry it, as the newer dual- and triple-target compounds have surpassed it in trial-reported effectiveness.
WHY RESEARCHERS COMPARE THEM
Tirzepatide hits two receptors, Retatrutide three, and Cagrilintide works a separate pathway entirely.
One is FDA-approved, two completed Phase 3—the comparison shows how evidence maturity differs even among leading compounds.
Each is rated with the same Evidence Framework, so the bars reflect a consistent standard rather than marketing.
Bars reflect each compound's studied research emphasis and evidence stage relative to the other two—not absolute effect sizes or a promise of results. Retatrutide and Cagrilintide are investigational and not FDA-approved. All materials are offered strictly for laboratory and research use. See each compound page for its full Evidence Snapshot.
