A ‘Godzilla’ new weight loss jab created by the maker of Mounjaro could make patients shed dangerous amounts of weight, research has suggested.
Early trials of the drug, retatrutide, have already shown it can help people shed a quarter of their body weight in under a year — almost twice as effective as Ozempic.
But now scientists have discovered alarming complications of the drug-induced fat loss, like bone breakages and kidney problems.
Unlike other slimming injections, the jab manufactured by US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly not only suppresses the appetite but also speeds up the metabolism.
Yet, volunteers in the latest clinical trial have claimed they’ve lost too much fat too quickly.
One participant reportedly dropped 22 per cent of her weight in just nine months. She later began skipping every other dose regardless.
Another, who lost almost a third of his weight in eight months, developed potentially dangerous kidney stones.
On social media, users who claim to have got their hands on the experimental drug — despite it not yet being approved for use in either the US or UK — have also boasted of losing more than three stone on the jabs in a matter of months.
Early trials of the drug, retatrutide, have already shown it can help people shed a quarter of their body weight in under a year. On social media, users claim to have got their hands on the experimental drug
One US account claimed he had been on the drug for three weeks, losing seven pounds in the process
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The once-weekly injectable has been dubbed ‘triple g’ because it targets three different hormones involved in how much we eat.
By comparison, Ozempic and Wegovy target one, and Mounjaro targets two hormones.
According to Stat News, it is not certain whether the trial participant who lost 30 per cent of his weight in eight months developed the kidney stone because of weight loss.
Studies, however, have suggested that such medicines, collectively known as GLP-1 agonists, may trigger the condition.
Another, who claimed his weight had plunged 31 per cent over a similar time period said he had been forced to eat calorie-dense foods like peanut butter to avoid losing more.
‘I go to my visits and they’re like, ‘make sure you eat as much as you can,’ he told Stat. ‘It’s odd ‘to be in an obesity trial and try not to lose any more weight.’
All participants, aged in their 40s and 50s, cannot be identified due to confidentiality agreements signed when enrolling in the studies.
Eli Lilly said it wouldn’t comment on the protocols of the ongoing retatrutide trials, Stat News said.
Another UK account who urged people to ‘start their weight loss journey today’ said she has been on the 20mg pen — the strongest strength — for four months
Such is demand for the drug, that users also boast on social media forums of how to buy the jab in bulk overseas and test it to check it is in fact retatrutide
In a statement, the pharmaceutical giant added that patient safety was its top priority, and ‘we actively engage in monitoring, evaluating and reporting safety information for all our medicines’.
Dr John Batsis, an associate professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina, also said he had treated patients couple who grew frail and fell after losing too much weight on the current treatments, including one who broke her hip.
Experts have long warned of the risks of rapid and extreme weight loss which can include pancreatitis — when the pancreas suddenly becomes inflammed — as well as gall stones, loss of muscle mass and bone density changes.
Dr Batsis added: ‘How much is too much weight loss is unknown, and we really need additional data and need studies to look at that.
‘We need to be mindful of how much to push. Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.’
Last month singer Avery revealed she now has osteoporosis — a condition that puts sufferers at high risk of deadly fractures — after ‘losing too much weight’ on Ozempic.
The 30-year-old from Pheonix, Arizona admitted she took the weight-loss drug after struggling with an eating disorder, saying: ‘I thought I needed Ozempic to be beautiful and successful’.
According to phase two trial results of 338 obese people published last year, women on retatrutide lost an average of 28.5 per cent of their body weight over 48 weeks.
Last month, singer Avery, revealed she now has osteoporosis — a condition that puts sufferers at high risk of deadly fractures — after ‘losing too much weight’ on Ozempic
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By comparison, men lost an average of 21.2 per cent.
And more obese participants lost an even greater percentage of their body weight at 26.5 per cent in 48 weeks.
Unusually, 100 per cent of trial participants lost at least 5 per cent.
Like all previous GLP-1 drugs, retatrutide — taken once a week — led to side effects including nausea, diarrhoea and constipation.
But the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that the drug also had other health benefits.
Participants saw significant improvements in blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Four in ten participants were able to come off medication for high blood pressure.
By comparison, trials pivotal to getting Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide — the ingredient behind Ozempic — approved, show it can help users shed up to 15 per cent of their body weight over 68 weeks.
Studies have found Mounjaro could help obese people lose up to 22.5 per cent of their body weight in 72 weeks.
Unlike other slimming injections, the jab manufactured by US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly not only suppresses the appetite but also speeds up the metabolism
On TikTok users of retatrutide also claim the jab is a ‘gamechanger’, with one boasting of losing over three stone on it.
A US separate account claimed he had been on the drug for three weeks, losing seven pounds in the process.
‘I haven’t had any hunger cravings, my energy levels have been through the roof and it’s been extremely easy to stick to my diet.
‘I highly recommend it, it’s been a gamechanger for me.’
Another replied: ‘Hell yea man! Starting weight was 264lbs and now 239lbs, 25lbs down in 6wks.
‘Love the way I feel on Reta.’
Another UK account who urged people to ‘start their weight loss journey today’ said she has been on the 20mg pen — the strongest strength — for four months.
She claimed she had taken an eight week break over the Christmas period to eat what she wanted and had still lost ‘three stone and two pounds in total’ since beginning the injections.
Eli Lilly’s trial results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine last year, followed 338 overweight and obese adults for 48 weeks. Those taking the highest dose of the weekly injection – 12 mg – shed nearly 25 percent of their bodyweight by the study’s end
At the end of 48 weeks, the amount of weight lost had not plateaued, which suggests the subjects could have lost even more weight had they stayed on the medicine for longer
Such is demand for the drug, that users also boast on social media forums of how to buy the jab in bulk overseas and test it to check it is in fact retatrutide.
In one Reddit thread with over 17,000 members, MailOnline found one who said they relied on trustworthy groups in the messaging app Telegram to test it for them.
‘They’ll often keep track of test batches and results,’ they said.
‘I always order from heavily-tested sources with long reputations even if they’re more expensive.
‘Never have seen a need to test myself and so far have never had a bad experience.’
Another wrote: ‘Make sure the company you use does third party lab testing at a reputable lab.’
On a separate GLP-1 specific forum, an anonymous user also recommended one site for EU users given it ‘ships packages to look like skin care products’.
They added: ‘The packages are not labeled.’
It comes as this website revealed last year that counterfeit supplies of the experimental slimming jab were being sold in Britain for just £2 a pop.
Chinese firms making the substance in labs are even brazenly offering samples for as little as 80p per dose.
Adverts list it as a ‘weight loss supplement’, with vials emblazoned with the words ‘not for human consumption’ and ‘research only’ in a bid to not be accused of supplying an unapproved medication.
Some are being made in EU or Chinese labs and marketed to Brits directly online.
