Claimed effect · Retatrutide

Does Retatrutide help with obstructive sleep apnoea?

B
Grade B — probable, not settled1 phase 3 RCT (subgroup n=243) · effect size: moderate
Short answerProbable, not settled. Human data exist (1 phase 3 RCT (subgroup n=243)) and mostly agree, showing a moderate effect — but too few, too small, or not yet peer-reviewed for a firm answer. In the 243 TRIUMPH-1 participants with obstructive sleep apnoea, the apnoea–hypopnoea index fell by 34.3 events per hour on 9 mg and 32.1 on 12 mg versus 9.6 on placebo at 80 weeks, counting everyone randomised (differences −24.7 and −22.5; both P<0.001). One subgroup of one trial, so B. The sleep-apnoea results from TRIUMPH-2 have not been reported yet.

What the studies show

In the 243 TRIUMPH-1 participants with obstructive sleep apnoea, the apnoea–hypopnoea index fell by 34.3 events per hour on 9 mg and 32.1 on 12 mg versus 9.6 on placebo at 80 weeks, counting everyone randomised (differences −24.7 and −22.5; both P<0.001). One subgroup of one trial, so B. The sleep-apnoea results from TRIUMPH-2 have not been reported yet.

Human trials exist and mostly agree, but there are too few of them, they are too small, or one big one is still reading out. Expect the grade to move.

  1. 1
    Jastreboff AM, et al. Retatrutide, a triple hormone receptor agonist, for treatment of obesity (TRIUMPH-1).N Engl J Med, 2026 (online 29 Sep)2,339 randomised, 80 weeks; −25.0% on 12 mg vs −3.9% placebo by intention to treat. Subgroups with knee osteoarthritis (n=574) and obstructive sleep apnoea (n=243). NCT05929066.

In context

Retatrutide is an investigational once-weekly peptide that activates three receptors at once: GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon. In TRIUMPH-1, a 2,339-person phase 3 trial published in September 2026, adults with obesity lost 25.0% of body weight at 80 weeks on the top dose against 3.9% on placebo; in adults who also have type 2 diabetes the figure was 18.8% (TRIUMPH-2). A separate published trial cut HbA1c by up to 1.9 percentage points. It is not approved anywhere, and no legitimate supply exists outside clinical trials.

Retatrutide is investigational. Legal status differs by country — see the regulation section or the jurisdiction pages.

Questions

Is Retatrutide proven to help with obstructive sleep apnoea?
Not yet settled. 1 phase 3 RCT (subgroup n=243) — LYO grades it B, meaning probable but liable to change as trials read out.
What studies are behind the grade?
In the 243 TRIUMPH-1 participants with obstructive sleep apnoea, the apnoea–hypopnoea index fell by 34.3 events per hour on 9 mg and 32.1 on 12 mg versus 9.6 on placebo at 80 weeks, counting everyone randomised (differences −24.7 and −22.5; both P<0.001). One subgroup of one trial, so B. The sleep-apnoea results from TRIUMPH-2 have not been reported yet.
Is Retatrutide approved for this?
No. Retatrutide is investigational; it is not an approved medicine for any indication in the jurisdictions LYO covers.

Other outcomes for Retatrutide

Written and maintained by LYO Research — how pages are written and checked. Reviewed 7 October 2026. Grades count human evidence only; see how LYO grades. Not medical advice. Correct this page →