Kerala doctor loses 31 kg in trial of experimental obesity drug retatrutide
A 39-year-old physician from Kerala, Dr Zubair Nabin K, lost 31 kilograms after participating in a clinical trial for retatrutide, an experimental obesity drug. The drug, which targets three hormone receptors, helped him reduce his weight from 120 kg to 89 kg over two years.
Dr Nabin, who had struggled with obesity since childhood, had previously lost 10 kg through diet and exercise but found it insufficient. He enrolled in a Phase 3 trial of retatrutide, which has not yet been approved for patient use. The drug belongs to a new generation of medications that mimic gut hormones to control blood sugar and suppress appetite. Unlike existing drugs such as semaglutide (targeting GLP-1) and tirzepatide (targeting GLP-1 and GIP), retatrutide also targets the glucagon receptor.
According to trial results presented at medical conferences, participants on the highest dose (12 mg) lost an average of 28.3% of their body weight over 80 weeks, while those on 4 mg and 9 mg lost 19% and 25.9%, respectively. Dr Nabin experienced significant changes: his waist size dropped from 44 inches to 36 inches, and he reported improved confidence and reduced emotional eating. However, he also noted muscle loss and a feeling of reduced strength, common side effects of rapid weight loss.
Dr Jothydev Kesavadev, who led the trial at his diabetes research centre in Kochi, observed that sudden weight loss affected body image among participants. A small study he presented at the American Diabetes Association found that some patients discontinued GLP-1 drugs not only due to side effects but also due to negative comments about their appearance. Dr Nabin himself struggled with seeing his changed physique in the mirror, though he felt more confident overall.
The drug retatrutide is still under investigation, and its long-term safety and efficacy are not yet fully established. Experts caution that experimental drugs should only be used in controlled clinical settings. For individuals struggling with obesity, lifestyle modifications remain the first line of treatment, but newer medications offer additional options for those who meet specific criteria.
