Retatrutide Cost: Expected Pricing, Insurance & Savings

Overview

Retatrutide (LY3437943) is Eli Lilly's investigational triple-agonist peptide targeting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors. Because it has not yet received FDA approval, there is no confirmed retail price. However, pricing estimates can be derived from comparable approved medications such as tirzepatide (Zepbound/Mounjaro) and semaglutide (Wegovy/Ozempic). Based on these benchmarks, analysts estimate retatrutide may cost between $1,000 and $1,300 per month at list price, though actual out-of-pocket costs will depend heavily on insurance coverage, manufacturer savings programs, and the competitive landscape at the time of launch.

Why Retatrutide Pricing Is Not Yet Confirmed

Retatrutide remains an investigational drug currently in Phase 3 clinical trials under Eli Lilly's TRIUMPH program. No list price, wholesale acquisition cost (WAC), or retail price has been set because the drug has not yet been submitted for or granted FDA approval. Any cost figures circulating online are projections, not official pricing. Eli Lilly has not publicly disclosed pricing strategy for retatrutide, and the final price will depend on multiple factors including clinical trial outcomes, competitive positioning against approved GLP-1 medications, payer negotiations, and the broader regulatory environment for anti-obesity therapies at the time of launch.

Estimated Pricing Based on Comparable Drugs

The most reliable way to estimate retatrutide's eventual cost is to examine the pricing of comparable incretin-based obesity medications already on the market. Tirzepatide (marketed as Zepbound for obesity) carries a list price of approximately $1,060 per month. Semaglutide (marketed as Wegovy for obesity) has a list price of roughly $1,350 per month. Given that retatrutide is manufactured by the same company as tirzepatide (Eli Lilly) and demonstrates potentially superior efficacy in Phase 2 data, estimates suggest a list price in the $1,000 to $1,300 per month range. There is a possibility that Eli Lilly could price retatrutide at a premium relative to tirzepatide, given the added glucagon receptor mechanism and stronger weight-loss results. Conversely, competitive pressure from an increasingly crowded obesity drug market may moderate pricing.

• Tirzepatide (Zepbound): ~$1,060/month list price
• Semaglutide (Wegovy): ~$1,350/month list price
• Retatrutide: estimated $1,000–$1,300/month (not confirmed)

Insurance Coverage Considerations

Insurance coverage for anti-obesity medications remains one of the biggest barriers to patient access, and this will likely affect retatrutide as well. Many commercial insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) currently exclude weight-loss medications from their formularies, or impose strict prior authorization requirements including documented BMI thresholds, evidence of failed lifestyle interventions, and comorbidity criteria. Medicare Part D historically has not covered anti-obesity drugs, although the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act — if passed — could change this for millions of Medicare beneficiaries. Employer-sponsored plans vary widely, with some covering GLP-1 medications for obesity and others explicitly excluding them. The coverage landscape may shift significantly by the time retatrutide reaches market, particularly as the economic case for treating obesity pharmacologically (reduced cardiovascular events, diabetes prevention, lower long-term healthcare costs) becomes stronger.

• Many commercial plans exclude or restrict weight-loss drug coverage
• Medicare Part D coverage for obesity drugs remains limited without legislative change
• Prior authorization is common — expect BMI and comorbidity documentation requirements
• Employer plans vary widely in their approach to anti-obesity medication coverage
• The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act could expand Medicare coverage if enacted

Potential Savings Programs

Eli Lilly has established manufacturer savings programs for tirzepatide that may serve as a template for retatrutide upon approval. Currently, Lilly offers copay assistance cards for Zepbound that can reduce out-of-pocket costs to as low as $25 per month for commercially insured patients, with savings of up to $150 per month for those without insurance coverage through the drug. Patient assistance programs (PAPs) are also typically offered for uninsured or underinsured individuals meeting income eligibility criteria. When retatrutide launches, it is reasonable to expect similar savings infrastructure, though specific program details and eligibility requirements will be determined closer to the approval date. Patients should also consider that pharmacy benefit managers sometimes negotiate rebates that lower net costs below the list price, even if the sticker price appears high.

• Copay assistance cards may reduce costs to $25–$150/month for eligible patients
• Patient assistance programs typically serve uninsured and low-income patients
• Eli Lilly's existing savings infrastructure for tirzepatide suggests similar programs for retatrutide
• PBM-negotiated rebates may lower effective costs below published list prices

Compounding Pharmacy Context

The FDA has permitted compounding pharmacies to produce versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide during periods of documented drug shortages, and these compounded versions have been available at significantly lower prices — typically $200 to $500 per month. If retatrutide experiences similar supply constraints after approval, compounding pharmacies may produce lower-cost alternatives. However, compounded medications are not FDA-approved, are not subject to the same manufacturing standards as brand-name drugs, and may carry quality and safety uncertainties including inconsistent dosing, sterility concerns, and lack of long-term stability data. The FDA has also taken enforcement action against some compounding pharmacies producing GLP-1 medications. Patients considering compounded versions should discuss the risks and benefits with their healthcare provider.

• Compounded GLP-1 medications currently range from $200–$500/month
• Compounding is permitted only during documented FDA drug shortages
• Compounded versions are not FDA-approved and may carry quality risks
• The FDA has increased scrutiny of compounding pharmacies producing GLP-1 drugs

Cost Comparison: Retatrutide vs Alternatives

When evaluating the cost of retatrutide relative to alternatives, it is useful to consider both the absolute monthly price and the cost-effectiveness in terms of weight-loss outcomes. Semaglutide (Wegovy) costs approximately $1,350 per month and produces an average of roughly 15% body weight loss in clinical trials. Tirzepatide (Zepbound) costs approximately $1,060 per month and produces an average of roughly 22% body weight loss. Retatrutide, estimated at $1,000 to $1,300 per month, produced approximately 24% body weight loss in Phase 2 trials. On a cost-per-percentage-point-of-weight-loss basis, semaglutide costs roughly $90 per percentage point, tirzepatide costs roughly $48 per percentage point, and retatrutide may cost approximately $42 to $54 per percentage point — potentially making it the most cost-effective option in its class. These estimates are approximate and based on list prices rather than net costs after insurance and rebates.

• Semaglutide (Wegovy): ~$1,350/month, ~15% weight loss, ~$90 per percentage point
• Tirzepatide (Zepbound): ~$1,060/month, ~22% weight loss, ~$48 per percentage point
• Retatrutide (estimated): ~$1,000–$1,300/month, ~24% weight loss, ~$42–$54 per percentage point

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References

1. Triple-hormone-receptor agonist retatrutide for obesity — a Phase 2 trial (2023) — PubMed
2. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-1): cost-effectiveness analysis (2023)
3. GoodRx tirzepatide (Zepbound) pricing data (2024)