# Retatrutide Clinical Trials: How to Find and Join One **By TelosRX Editorial Team** ยท 2026-09-29 **Retatrutide clinical trials are the only legitimate way to get retatrutide today, because it is not FDA-approved. Most large U.S. trials have stopped enrolling, so you need to search smart. [TelosRX](https://telosrx.com) explains every step below.** Here's the short version. Retatrutide is an investigational weekly injection from Eli Lilly. It acts on three hormone receptors: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. Its early results made headlines, and now a lot of people want in. The catch? You can't get it from a pharmacy. Not a retail one, not a compounding one, not ours. The drug lives inside research studies until the FDA reviews it. So if you want access, retatrutide clinical trials are the road. This guide walks you through that road, one step at a time. ## Retatrutide Clinical Trials at a Glance (September 2026) First, a reality check on what's open. We pulled the current status of each major study straight from the [ClinicalTrials.gov retatrutide listings](https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?intr=retatrutide). Status changes often, so always confirm on the registry. Study Registry ID Who it studies Status (Sept 2026) TRIUMPH-1 NCT05929066 Obesity or overweight, no type 2 diabetes Completed TRIUMPH-2 NCT05929079 Obesity with type 2 diabetes Completed TRIUMPH-3 NCT05882045 Severe obesity with heart disease Completed TRIUMPH-4 NCT05931367 Obesity with knee osteoarthritis Completed TRIUMPH-5 NCT06662383 Retatrutide compared with tirzepatide Active, not recruiting TRIUMPH-6 to 9 Multiple Weight maintenance, back pain, other groups Active, not recruiting TRIUMPH-Outcomes NCT06383390 Heart and kidney outcomes Active, not recruiting SYNERGY-Outcomes NCT07165028 High-risk fatty liver disease (MASLD) **Recruiting** Phase 2 obesity study NCT07467447 Obesity with a weight-related condition Recruiting (site listed outside the U.S.) Expanded access NCT07629401 Severe obesity, no trial option Available by physician request Notice the pattern. The big obesity trials are full or finished. The open doors are narrower: a liver-disease study, a small overseas study, and a physician-led expanded access program. That doesn't mean you're out of luck. It means you need a plan. ## Before You Start: What Joining a Trial Really Means A clinical trial is research, not a treatment program. That difference shapes everything. - **You may get a placebo.** Most retatrutide studies are double-blind. Neither you nor the site staff knows your assignment. - **You follow the protocol.** Dose, schedule, and visits are fixed by the study, not by preference. - **You commit to time.** TRIUMPH-1 ran about 80 weeks. SYNERGY-Outcomes plans roughly 224 weeks. - **Access usually ends with the study.** There's no promise you'll keep getting retatrutide afterward. - **The drug is typically free.** Sponsors usually cover study medication and required visits. Some pay for time or travel. If that trade-off works for you, keep reading. If it doesn't, skip to Step 9 for other paths. ## Step 1: Check Whether You Roughly Fit Every study has its own criteria. Still, retatrutide trials share a common shape. Here's what earlier obesity studies typically asked for. - Age 18 or older (some studies cap at 75) - BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition like high blood pressure - Stable weight, often no change of more than about 11 pounds in the prior three months - No recent use of other weight-loss medications, often within 90 days Common exclusions matter just as much. Studies usually exclude people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2 syndrome. Prior pancreatitis, type 1 diabetes, and past bariatric surgery are frequent exclusions too. Don't self-disqualify too fast. Criteria vary by study, and only the site can confirm your fit. ## Step 2: Search ClinicalTrials.gov the Right Way ClinicalTrials.gov is the official U.S. registry. It's free and lists every Lilly-sponsored retatrutide study. Here's the fastest way to search it. 1. Go to ClinicalTrials.gov and open the study search. 2. Type **retatrutide** in the "Intervention/treatment" field. Also try its code name, **LY3437943**. 3. Set "Study status" to **Recruiting** and "Not yet recruiting." 4. Add your ZIP code and a travel radius you can actually manage. 5. Open each result and read the "Brief Summary" first. Searching the code name catches listings that don't use the brand-style name. It's a small trick that finds studies other searchers miss. ## Step 3: Watch for New Studies Every Few Weeks Retatrutide is still a very active research program. Lilly keeps adding studies for new conditions. In 2026 alone, new listings appeared for liver disease and weight maintenance. So make searching a habit, not a one-time event. A few easy ways to stay current: - Save your ClinicalTrials.gov search and re-run it monthly. - Check the sponsor's own trial finder, which often mirrors the registry. - Look for "Not yet recruiting" listings. Those open soon and fill fast. New studies tend to fill in weeks, not months. Early contact is your biggest advantage. ## Step 4: Read the Eligibility Criteria Line by Line This is where most people skim. Don't. Each listing has an "Eligibility" section with inclusion and exclusion lists. Take the currently recruiting [SYNERGY-Outcomes study (NCT07165028)](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07165028) as an example. It's a Phase 3 study of about 4,500 adults with fatty liver disease. It compares retatrutide, tirzepatide, and placebo. It lists more than 500 sites worldwide, including U.S. sites. Its entry rules are specific: - Liver fat of 8% or more on imaging - An ELF blood score (a liver scarring marker) between 9 and 10.8 - Liver stiffness between 10 and 20 kPa on a FibroScan-type test - Exclusions include BMI under 25, type 1 diabetes, and HbA1c above 10% See the point? This study wants people with a specific liver condition. It is not a general weight-loss study. Reading carefully saves you and the site a wasted call. ## Step 5: Contact the Study Site Directly Scroll to "Contacts and Locations" on the listing. You'll usually find a phone number or email for each site. Call the one closest to you. Have these ready before you dial: - Your height, weight, and approximate BMI - A list of your diagnoses and current medications - Any recent lab results, like HbA1c or liver tests - Your availability for regular in-person visits Most sites start with a short phone pre-screen. It often takes 10 to 20 minutes. If you seem like a fit, they'll book a screening visit. ## Step 6: Ask These Questions Before You Commit You're allowed to interview the study, too. Good sites welcome it. Ask: 1. Are you enrolling new participants right now? 2. What's the chance I'll receive placebo? 3. How many visits are required, and how often? 4. Do you pay for time or travel? 5. Who do I call about side effects between visits? 6. What happens to my care when the study ends? 7. Do I need to stop any current medications? That last question is important. Never stop or change a current medication on your own. Any change should happen only with approval from your own prescriber and the study team. ## Step 7: Talk to Your Own Clinician Loop in your regular doctor early. They know your history better than a study site will. They can also help you decide if a multi-year study fits your life. Physician referral can speed things up, too. Some sites prioritize referred candidates because records arrive complete. Ask your clinician to send your recent labs and notes if the site requests them. Not sure trials are right for you? That's a fair conclusion. You can explore [FDA-approved and compounded GLP-1 options](https://telosrx.com/pages/glp-1-options) through TelosRX's asynchronous online intake. Any prescription is subject to medical approval by a licensed provider, and approval is not guaranteed. ## Step 8: Go Through Screening and Consent Screening is a detailed check-up. Expect a medical history review, a physical exam, bloodwork, and sometimes imaging. The liver study, for example, uses imaging and stiffness tests. Next comes informed consent. You'll receive a long document that explains risks, procedures, costs, and your rights. Read it slowly. Ask about anything unclear. A few facts to confirm in the consent form: - You can leave the study at any time. - Who pays if a research-related injury happens - Exactly how compensation works, if offered After you sign and qualify, you're randomized. Then the study visits begin. Early visits usually come close together while the dose steps up. Later, they spread out. Keep a simple log of symptoms, meals, and questions between visits. It makes each check-in faster, and it helps the study team spot problems early. ## Step 9: If You Don't Qualify, Know Your Other Paths Many people won't find an open, nearby trial. Here's what's left, and what isn't. ### Expanded access (compassionate use) Lilly lists a [pre-approval expanded access program (NCT07629401)](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07629401). It's narrow by design. It's for adults with a BMI of 35 or higher and at least two serious obesity-related conditions. They must also have tried the highest available approved therapy and be unable to join a trial. A physician has to request it on the patient's behalf. ### FDA-approved options available now Tirzepatide (Zepbound) and semaglutide (Wegovy) are FDA-approved for chronic weight management in eligible adults. Tirzepatide also acts on GLP-1 and GIP receptors, two of retatrutide's three targets. Our [tirzepatide vs retatrutide comparison](https://telosrx.com/blogs/glp1/tirzepatide-vs-retatrutide-comparison) breaks down how they differ. ### What to avoid Online sellers offer "retatrutide" labeled for research use only. These products are not FDA-approved, not made for people, and not checked for purity or dose. No legitimate pharmacy can dispense retatrutide today. Buying it means injecting an unknown product. ## Red Flags: How to Spot a Fake "Retatrutide Trial" High demand attracts scammers. Some websites borrow the language of research to sell unapproved injections. Others collect personal data under the banner of "trial enrollment." Here's how to tell the difference. Legitimate trial Red flag Has an NCT number you can look up on ClinicalTrials.gov No registry ID, or an ID that doesn't match the study Study drug provided at no cost Asks you to pay for the "trial medication" In-person screening with labs and an exam Ships the drug after a quick online form Written informed consent you can take home Pressure to sign or pay today Named site, investigator, and phone contact Only a chat box or social media account One rule covers most cases. Real retatrutide studies never sell you the study drug. If money flows from you to them for the medication, walk away. If you're unsure, search the NCT number yourself. Then call the site using the contact listed on the registry, not the one in an ad. ## How Retatrutide Trials Compare to Getting an Approved GLP-1 Factor Retatrutide trial Approved GLP-1 prescription Cost of medication Usually free Insurance or cash pay Chance of active drug Not guaranteed (placebo possible) Yes, if prescribed Dose control Set by protocol Adjusted by your provider Time commitment Frequent visits for 1.5 to 4+ years Periodic check-ins Access after it ends Not guaranteed Ongoing if appropriate Location Must reach a study site Often fully online ## What We Know About Retatrutide So Far People join trials because the early data looked strong. In 2026, Lilly reported that several TRIUMPH Phase 3 studies met their main goals. Our [Phase 3 results explainer](https://telosrx.com/blogs/glp1/retatrutide-clinical-trial-results-phase-3) walks through the numbers study by study. Side effects in studies have mostly been digestive: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. Some trials also reported higher heart rate and skin sensitivity. See our [retatrutide side effects guide](https://telosrx.com/blogs/glp1/retatrutide-side-effects-guide) for the full picture. On timing, Lilly said in July 2026 that it plans to file with the FDA in early 2027. A filing is not an approval. Review can take a year or more, and outcomes are never certain. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I get retatrutide outside a clinical trial? Not legitimately. Retatrutide is not FDA-approved, so no retail or compounding pharmacy can dispense it. The only sanctioned routes are enrolling in a registered clinical trial or, for a narrow group of patients, a physician-requested expanded access program. Products sold online as research chemicals are not made for human use. ### Are retatrutide clinical trials still enrolling in 2026? Most large TRIUMPH obesity trials have finished or stopped recruiting. As of September 2026, ClinicalTrials.gov showed a Phase 3 fatty liver study recruiting worldwide and a smaller Phase 2 obesity study recruiting outside the U.S. New studies appear regularly, so check the registry monthly. ### Do retatrutide trial participants have to pay? Usually not for the study drug. Sponsors typically cover the investigational medication and required study visits. Many sites also reimburse travel or pay for your time. Details vary by study, so confirm costs, payments, and injury coverage in the informed consent document before you enroll. ### Will I get a placebo in a retatrutide trial? You might. Most retatrutide studies are randomized and double-blind, and many include a placebo group. Some compare retatrutide with an active drug like tirzepatide instead. Ask the site coordinator about the randomization ratio so you understand your odds before signing up. ### What BMI do you need for a retatrutide trial? Earlier obesity studies generally required a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure. Other studies use different rules. The current liver study, for example, excludes BMI under 25 and focuses on liver test results instead. ### How long does a retatrutide study last? Longer than most people expect. TRIUMPH-1 ran about 80 weeks, or roughly 18 months. The SYNERGY-Outcomes liver study plans about 224 weeks. Expect regular in-person visits throughout, plus follow-up after your last dose. Ask the site for a visit calendar before you commit. ### When might retatrutide be FDA-approved? No one knows yet. Lilly said in July 2026 that it plans to submit retatrutide to the FDA in early 2027. FDA review commonly takes about a year after submission, and approval is never guaranteed. Until then, retatrutide remains investigational and not FDA-approved. _TelosRX is LegitScript-certified. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are prepared under federal compounding regulations. Approval is subject to evaluation by a licensed provider; approval is not guaranteed. Individual results vary. TelosRX operates as an online-first, asynchronous telehealth service._ Start your private evaluation at [TelosRX](https://telosrx.com). **Tags:** GLP-1 research, guide, retatrutide, retatrutide clinical trials, retatrutide trial eligibility, TRIUMPH trials --- > Source: [Telos RX](https://www.telosrx.com/blogs/glp1/retatrutide-clinical-trials-how-to-find-and-join)