The next filing on a stated date is Lilly's retatrutide, planned for the first quarter of 2027 [6]. None of the eight can be legally bought today outside a clinical trial, and FDA warns against products sold online as "research use only" [2].
A drug pipeline is the list of medicines a company is still testing in people, from phase 1 safety studies to the large phase 3 trials that FDA reviews before it decides whether to approve a drug [3] [4].
This page tracks 16 GLP-1 and metabolic drugs: four approved reference drugs and twelve still in testing. Each row is dated and sourced to the company's own releases and filings, trial registries or FDA. When a company files, or FDA acts, the row changes. For drugs you can get now, see Wegovy, Zepbound, the Wegovy pill and Foundayo.
Every drug we track, by stage
Stage labels: Approved means FDA has approved it and a pharmacy can fill a prescription. Filed with FDA means the company has submitted an application and FDA has not decided. Phase 3 and Phase 2 mean the drug is still in trials. Results are trial averages, as each company reported them; individual results vary.
| Drug | Stage | Where it stands | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundayoorforglipron, Eli LillyGLP-1 (small molecule) daily pill | Approved | FDA-approved April 1, 2026 [23]. In ATTAIN-1, people on the top dose lost an average of 11.1% of body weight at 72 weeks, vs 2.1% on placebo, counting everyone who started [23]. Lilly has submitted it to FDA for type 2 diabetes [6]. Next: FDA decision on the type 2 diabetes submission. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Wegovysemaglutide, Novo NordiskGLP-1 weekly injection | Approved | FDA-approved for chronic weight management and to lower heart risk in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight [25]. In STEP 1, adults on 2.4 mg lost an average of 14.9% of body weight at 68 weeks, vs 2.4% on placebo [27]. A 7.2 mg dose, Wegovy HD, launched in the US in April 2026 [11]. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Wegovy pilloral semaglutide 25 mg, Novo NordiskGLP-1 daily pill | Approved | FDA approval announced Dec 22, 2025 [22]; US launch Jan 5, 2026 [11]. In OASIS 4, adults on 25 mg lost an average of 13.6% of body weight at 64 weeks, vs 2.4% on placebo, counting everyone who started [22]. Next: FDA decision on use for MASH liver disease. Novo Nordisk expects the decision in Q1 2027. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Zepboundtirzepatide, Eli LillyGIP plus GLP-1 weekly injection | Approved | FDA-approved for chronic weight management on Nov 8, 2023 [24] and for obstructive sleep apnea with obesity on Dec 20, 2024 [28]. In SURMOUNT-1, adults on 15 mg lost an average of 20.9% of body weight at 72 weeks, vs 3.1% on placebo [29]. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| CagriSemacagrilintide and semaglutide, Novo Nordiskamylin plus GLP-1 weekly injection | Filed with FDA | Novo Nordisk filed for FDA approval in December 2025 and says it is not approved in the US [7] [1]. In REDEFINE 1, people lost an average of 20.4% of body weight at 68 weeks, vs 3.0% on placebo, counting everyone who started [7]. In REDEFINE 4 it did not match tirzepatide 15 mg: 20.2% vs 23.6% at 84 weeks [30]. In REIMAGINE 5, in adults with type 2 diabetes, a lower CagriSema dose averaged 12.4% vs 9.1% on tirzepatide 5 mg at 60 weeks (efficacy estimand) [31]. Next: FDA decision. Novo Nordisk expects an FDA decision in Q4 2026. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Amycretin (zenagamtide)zenagamtide, Novo NordiskGLP-1 plus amylin in one molecule weekly injection; pill also in testing | Phase 3 | In a phase 1b/2a trial, people on 20 mg lost an average of 22.0% of body weight at 36 weeks, vs a 2.0% gain on placebo [34]. Novo started the AMAZE phase 3 program in the first half of 2026 [11]. Novo now calls it zenagamtide [35]. Next: AMAZE phase 3 results. Novo expects AMAZE 8, against semaglutide, to read out in the first half of 2029. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Eloralintideeloralintide, Eli Lillyamylin weekly injection | Phase 3 | In a 48-week phase 2 study, average weight loss ranged from 9.5% to 20.1% across doses, vs 0.4% on placebo (efficacy estimand) [36]. Lilly says phase 3 trials are ongoing [26], and the phase 3 ENLIGHTEN-1 trial is recruiting [37] [38]. Next: ENLIGHTEN phase 3 results. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| MariTidemaridebart cafraglutide, AmgenGLP-1 activation plus GIP receptor blocking monthly or less frequent injection | Phase 3 | In a 52-week phase 2 study, people without diabetes lost an average of 16.3% to 19.9% of body weight (efficacy estimand), or 12.3% to 16.2% counting everyone who started, vs about 2.5% on placebo [32]. The MARITIME-1 and MARITIME-2 phase 3 trials are ongoing [9]. Next: MARITIME-1 and MARITIME-2 weight loss results. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Pemvidutidepemvidutide, Altimmuneglucagon plus GLP-1 weekly injection | Phase 3 (MASH) | Altimmune started the phase 3 PERFORMA trial in MASH liver disease in 2026; its latest update describes the drug for MASH and alcohol-related conditions, not weight loss [40]. Next: PERFORMA 52-week results. Altimmune anticipates them in 2029. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| PF-08653944formerly MET-097i, PfizerGLP-1 weekly, then monthly injection | Phase 3 | In phase 2b VESPER-3, placebo-adjusted weight loss was up to 12.3% at 28 weeks (efficacy estimand) [39]. Pfizer says the phase 3 VESPER-4 trial has started [39]. Next: More phase 3 trials starting. Pfizer said it is targeting 2028 for its first weight loss approval, Reuters reported. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Retatrutideretatrutide, Eli LillyGIP, GLP-1 and glucagon weekly injection | Phase 3 | In TRIUMPH-1, people on 12 mg lost an average of 28.3% of body weight at 80 weeks, vs 2.2% on placebo, by Lilly's efficacy estimand [21]. Lilly says its obesity data package is complete [6]. It is not approved anywhere and cannot be legally sold [15]. Next: Biologics License Application to FDA. Lilly plans to submit in Q1 2027. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Survodutidesurvodutide, Boehringer Ingelheim (with Zealand Pharma)glucagon plus GLP-1 weekly injection | Phase 3 | In SYNCHRONIZE-1, adults without diabetes lost up to an average of 16.6% of body weight at 76 weeks, vs 3.2% on placebo (efficacy estimand) [33]. In SYNCHRONIZE-2, adults with type 2 diabetes lost up to 13.1%, vs 3.1% [8]. About 18% to 19% stopped because of stomach side effects [33] [8]. Next: SYNCHRONIZE-CVOT heart outcomes results. Boehringer Ingelheim expects to present results later in 2026. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| VK2735VK2735, Viking TherapeuticsGLP-1 plus GIP weekly injection; pill also in testing | Phase 3 | The 78-week VANQUISH-1 (about 4,500 people) and VANQUISH-2 (about 1,000) phase 3 trials are fully enrolled [20]. In phase 2, average weight fell by up to 14.7% after 13 weekly doses [20]. Next: Phase 3 start for the pill form. Viking expects it to begin in Q4 2026; no VANQUISH results date given. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Bimagrumabbimagrumab, Eli Lillyactivin type II receptor antibody infusion in trials | Phase 2 | In phase 2 BELIEVE, bimagrumab plus semaglutide produced an average loss of 22.1% at 72 weeks, vs 15.7% on semaglutide alone [42]. Lilly canceled one phase 2 trial, in type 2 diabetes, in September 2025; another, with tirzepatide, was recruiting [43]. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Efinopegdutideefinopegdutide (MK-6024), Merckglucagon plus GLP-1 weekly injection | Phase 2 (MASH) | Merck lists it for MASH liver disease, not obesity [44]. A phase 2a trial is testing it in about 80 adults with MASH [45]. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Petrelintidepetrelintide, Roche and Zealand Pharmaamylin weekly injection | Phase 2 | In phase 2 ZUPREME-1, people lost up to an average of 10.7% of body weight at 42 weeks, vs 1.7% on placebo (efficacy estimand) [41]. Next: ZUPREME-2 topline results in type 2 diabetes. Roche expects them in the second half of 2026. | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Stage | Drugs | Which ones |
|---|---|---|
| Approved for weight loss | 4 | Wegovy, Wegovy pill, Zepbound, Foundayo (orforglipron) |
| Filed with FDA | 1 | CagriSema |
| Phase 3 for weight loss | 7 | Retatrutide, MariTide, survodutide, amycretin (zenagamtide), VK2735, eloralintide, PF-08653944 |
| Phase 3 for liver disease | 1 | Pemvidutide (MASH) |
| Phase 2 | 3 | Petrelintide, bimagrumab, efinopegdutide (MASH) |
Which new drugs are closest to pharmacies
CagriSema (Novo Nordisk) is the only drug in our tracker with an application at FDA. Novo filed in December 2025 [7] and, on Oct 20, 2026, said it expects a decision in the fourth quarter of 2026 and that the drug is not approved in the US [1]. It is a weekly shot combining semaglutide with cagrilintide, an amylin analogue [7].
Retatrutide (Lilly) is next on a stated date. Lilly says its obesity data package is complete and it plans to submit to FDA in the first quarter of 2027 [6]. In TRIUMPH-1, people on 12 mg lost an average of 28.3% of body weight at 80 weeks, vs 2.2% on placebo, by Lilly's efficacy estimand [21].
Survodutide (Boehringer Ingelheim, with Zealand Pharma) has finished two phase 3 weight trials. In SYNCHRONIZE-2, adults with type 2 diabetes lost up to an average of 13.1% at 76 weeks, vs 3.1% on placebo [8]. Neither phase 3 release gives a filing date; Boehringer Ingelheim expects heart outcomes results later in 2026 [8].
MariTide (Amgen), a shot given monthly or less often, has its MARITIME-1 and MARITIME-2 phase 3 trials ongoing [9]. Amgen has not given a readout date in its latest earnings release [9]. Amycretin (Novo Nordisk, now named zenagamtide) began its AMAZE phase 3 program in the first half of 2026 [11].
Further back: Viking's VK2735 has two fully enrolled phase 3 trials with no results date given [20], Lilly says phase 3 trials of its amylin drug eloralintide are ongoing [26], and Pfizer, which is testing the monthly shot PF-08653944, said it is targeting 2028 for its first weight loss approval, Reuters reported [19].
How a drug moves from phase 3 to approval
Phase 3 is the last stage of testing before a company asks FDA for approval. FDA says phase 3 studies enroll 300 to 3,000 people with the condition, run 1 to 4 years, and are designed to show whether the drug offers a treatment benefit; about 25% to 30% of drugs move on from this phase [3].
- Trials finish. The company reports topline results, then full data at a medical meeting or in a journal.
- The company files. A New Drug Application or Biologics License Application must include everything about the drug, from preclinical data to phase 3 data [4].
- FDA reviews. If the application is complete, FDA says its review team has 6 to 10 months to decide [4]. The goal is 6 months under priority review and 10 months under standard review [5].
- FDA decides. FDA may approve the drug with a label, ask the company to answer questions about its data, or require more studies [4].
- Launch. Only after approval can a pharmacy fill a prescription. Companies set launch dates and prices; none has been announced for the pipeline drugs in our table.
So a drug still in phase 3 today is unlikely to reach pharmacies for at least a year after its company files. Company timelines can slip. We list only the timing a company has stated, and we say who stated it.
What to expect on price
No company in our tracker has announced a US price for a pipeline drug in the releases we checked. Approved drugs give a reference point. As of Oct 17, 2026, self-pay prices from the makers were:
| Drug | Maker channel | Self-pay price a month | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zepbound | LillyDirect | $299 to $449 with refills within 45 days | [12] |
| Wegovy pens | NovoCare Pharmacy | $199 to $399 | [13] |
| Wegovy pill | NovoCare Pharmacy | $149 to $299 | [13] |
| Foundayo | LillyDirect | $149 to $299 | [14] |
Medicare's GLP-1 Bridge covers some approved weight loss drugs at a $50 monthly copay for people who qualify, from July 1, 2026 through Dec 31, 2027 [18]. A new drug is not covered by that program or by a health plan just because FDA approves it. For the full picture, see the GLP-1 price tracker and GLP-1s and Medicare.
Why buying unapproved versions online is unsafe and illegal
Sellers online offer several pipeline drugs before approval, often labeled "research use only" or "not for human consumption." FDA says it has warned companies selling semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide, survodutide and mazdutide products with those labels, that their quality is unknown and that they may be harmful [2]. FDA also says retatrutide and cagrilintide, one of the two drugs in CagriSema, "cannot be used in compounding under federal law" [2].
On Aug 12, 2026, Lilly announced six lawsuits against sellers of retatrutide and said it had referred more than 200 people and companies to regulators and law enforcement. Its chief medical officer said: "What is being sold on the black market is not a medicine" [15]. Read more on our page about research-use-only GLP-1s and on the peptide FDA status tracker.
The only legal way to take a pipeline drug
Join a clinical trial. Trial drugs come from the maker, and study doctors monitor you. Search for open trials by drug name on ClinicalTrials.gov. If you have used an online product and have severe stomach pain that will not go away, or signs of an allergic reaction such as swelling of the face or throat or trouble breathing, get medical help now. In an emergency, call 911.
Drugs approved outside the US
Two drugs are approved for weight loss in China but not in the US, and we found no US filing for either. Innovent announced on June 27, 2025 that China's NMPA approved mazdutide, a GLP-1 and glucagon drug it licenses from Lilly [16]. It approved Sciwind's ecnoglutide for chronic weight management in Chinese adults, announced March 6, 2026 [17]. Neither is in our main table, which tracks US status.
How we check
We read each company's own press releases, quarterly reports and SEC filings, trial registries and FDA pages, and we date every row. We report each trial's average as the company reported it and name the estimand when the company does: the efficacy estimand assumes everyone stayed on the drug, and the treatment-regimen estimand counts everyone who started. We list a next step only when the company has stated one. We do not link to sellers. See our editorial standards. To report a change, email us at the address in the site footer.
Questions people ask
What new weight loss drugs are coming?
As of Oct 24, 2026, eight new weight loss drugs are in phase 3 or under FDA review in our tracker: CagriSema (filed with FDA), retatrutide, MariTide, survodutide, amycretin, VK2735, eloralintide and Pfizer's PF-08653944 [1] [6]. Novo Nordisk expects an FDA decision on CagriSema in the fourth quarter of 2026 [1].
What is the next weight loss drug to be approved?
When will retatrutide be approved?
How long does FDA take to approve a new drug?
How much will the new weight loss drugs cost?
Can I buy retatrutide or CagriSema online?
Not legally. Neither is approved, and FDA says retatrutide and cagrilintide cannot be used in compounding under federal law; FDA warns that products sold as "research use only" have unknown quality and may be harmful [2]. The legal route is a clinical trial.
Are there new weight loss pills?
Which weight loss drug in development has the biggest trial result?
Trials differ in length, dose and who enrolled, so results are not a head-to-head test. The largest average in our table is retatrutide's: 28.3% of body weight at 80 weeks on 12 mg in TRIUMPH-1, vs 2.2% on placebo, by Lilly's efficacy estimand [21].
Medical review: pending. A licensed clinician has not yet reviewed this page.
Sources
45 cited
- Novo's CagriSema was associated with 25% weight loss on average for women. Novo Nordisk, Oct 20, 2026.
- FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. US Food and Drug Administration, Oct 1, 2026.
- Step 3: Clinical research. US Food and Drug Administration, Nov 18, 2025.
- Step 4: FDA drug review. US Food and Drug Administration, Jan 4, 2018.
- Priority review. US Food and Drug Administration, Jan 4, 2018.
- Lilly reports second-quarter 2026 financial results (Form 8-K). Eli Lilly and Company (SEC filing), Jul 30, 2026.
- Novo Nordisk files for FDA approval of CagriSema. Novo Nordisk, Dec 18, 2025.
- Zealand Pharma company announcement No. 52/2026: survodutide SYNCHRONIZE-2 results. Zealand Pharma (GlobeNewswire via Taiwan News), Oct 1, 2026.
- Amgen second-quarter 2026 earnings release (Form 8-K). Amgen (SEC filing), Aug 4, 2026.
- Amgen drops early-stage obesity drug, upping pressure on MariTide. Fierce Biotech, Aug 4, 2026.
- Novo Nordisk Form 6-K: financial report for the first six months of 2026. Novo Nordisk (SEC filing), Aug 5, 2026.
- Zepbound on LillyDirect: self-pay prices. Eli Lilly and Company (LillyDirect), Oct 17, 2026.
- Wegovy self-pay offer. Novo Nordisk (NovoCare Pharmacy), Oct 17, 2026.
- Foundayo on LillyDirect: self-pay prices. Eli Lilly and Company (LillyDirect), Oct 17, 2026.
- Lilly calls on online platforms, payment companies and regulators to act on illegal retatrutide sales. Eli Lilly and Company, Aug 12, 2026.
- Innovent announces mazdutide received approval from China's NMPA for chronic weight management. Innovent Biologics (BioSpace), Jun 27, 2025.
- Sciwind Biosciences announces ecnoglutide injection approved by China's NMPA for chronic weight management. Sciwind Biosciences (BioSpace), Mar 6, 2026.
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: information for pharmacies. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Oct 17, 2026.
- Weight-loss drugmakers race for slice of $100bn pie. Reuters (via TimesLIVE), Oct 16, 2026.
- Viking Therapeutics reports second quarter 2026 financial results (Form 8-K exhibit). Viking Therapeutics (SEC filing), Jul 29, 2026.
- Retatrutide TRIUMPH-1 topline results. Eli Lilly and Company, May 21, 2026.
- FDA approves Wegovy pill for weight loss. Novo Nordisk, Dec 22, 2025.
- FDA approves Lilly's Foundayo (orforglipron). Eli Lilly and Company, Apr 1, 2026.
- FDA approves new medication for chronic weight management. US Food and Drug Administration, Nov 8, 2023.
- Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets prescribing information. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine, Jun 2026.
- Lilly to present new data on Foundayo, retatrutide and eloraTZP at EASD 2026. Eli Lilly and Company, Sep 15, 2026.
- Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity (STEP 1). New England Journal of Medicine (PubMed), Feb 10, 2021.
- FDA approves first medication for obstructive sleep apnea. US Food and Drug Administration, Dec 20, 2024.
- Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-1). New England Journal of Medicine (PubMed), Jun 4, 2022.
- CagriSema REDEFINE 4 results vs tirzepatide (company announcement 13/2026). Novo Nordisk, Feb 23, 2026.
- Novo's CagriSema delivers superior weight loss versus tirzepatide in REIMAGINE 5 trial. Novo Nordisk, Sep 21, 2026.
- Results from Amgen's phase 2 obesity study of monthly MariTide presented at ADA. Amgen, Jun 23, 2025.
- Zealand Pharma company announcement No. 21/2026: survodutide SYNCHRONIZE-1 body composition and full results. Zealand Pharma (GlobeNewswire via Taiwan News), Jun 7, 2026.
- Novo Nordisk completes phase 1b/2a trial with subcutaneous amycretin. Novo Nordisk, Jan 24, 2025.
- Novo Nordisk's investigational zenagamtide shows HbA1c reductions with up to 14.6% weight loss in type 2 diabetes. Novo Nordisk, Jun 6, 2026.
- Lilly's eloralintide demonstrated meaningful weight loss in a phase 2 study. Eli Lilly and Company, Nov 6, 2025.
- ENLIGHTEN-1: phase 3 study of once weekly eloralintide (research summary). NHS Health Research Authority, Jan 15, 2026.
- jRCT2031250801: phase 3 study of eloralintide. Japan Registry of Clinical Trials, Mar 11, 2026.
- Pfizer's ultra-long-acting injectable GLP-1 RA shows continued weight loss with monthly dosing in phase 2b trial. Pfizer (Business Wire), Feb 2, 2026.
- Altimmune announces second quarter 2026 financial results and business update. Altimmune (press release via 1stOncology), Aug 12, 2026.
- Roche announces positive phase II results for petrelintide. Roche, Mar 5, 2026.
- Results show bimagrumab with semaglutide achieve substantial weight reduction. Drug Topics, Mar 9, 2026.
- Lilly terminates obesity trial of bimagrumab. BioPharma Dive, Sep 25, 2025.
- Merck product pipeline. Merck, Aug 5, 2026.
- Clinical trial of MK-6024 in adults with liver scarring from MASH (research summary). NHS Health Research Authority, Jul 12, 2024.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own care.