Is retatrutide available in Australia? No. As of October 2026, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) hasn’t approved it, it isn’t approved for prescription use, and Lilly, the company that developed retatrutide, shares that it’s legally available only to participants in its clinical trials.
Here’s where things stand, what the science shows, and what your real options are right now.
Key Takeaways
- Is retatrutide available in Australia? Not through any approved channel. There’s no TGA approval and no legal prescription route.
- Trial data: Lilly’s Phase 3 TRIUMPH-1 trial reported average weight loss of up to 28.3% at 80 weeks.
- Timeline: Lilly plans to file with the US FDA in early 2027. Approval in Australia is more likely in late 2028 to early 2029.
- Risks: The TGA has flagged liver injuries and a product sold as retatrutide that contained a different drug.
- Options now: TGA-approved medicines exist, and body contouring can support your shape, tone and skin alongside them.
What is Retatrutide?
Retatrutide is an investigational once-weekly injection from Eli Lilly. It activates three hormone receptors at once (GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon), which is why it’s called a triple agonist.
Semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) targets GLP-1 alone. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) mimics two hormones. Retatrutide adds a third.
What Do the TRIUMPH Trials Show?
TRIUMPH-1 followed 2,339 adults with obesity or overweight (without diabetes) for 80 weeks. Those on the 12 mg dose lost an average of 28.3% of their body weight, compared with 2.2% on placebo. The 4 mg dose averaged 19.0% according to reports in May 2026. TRIUMPH-3, in people with severe obesity and cardiovascular disease, reported losses of up to 22.6% in July 2026.
For context, tirzepatide’s top dose averaged 20.9% over 72 weeks in SURMOUNT-1. In a head-to-head trial, tirzepatide averaged 20.2% against 13.7% for semaglutide. The trials differ in populations and timeframes, so treat these comparisons as a guide only.
Two caveats matter. These are topline figures reported by Lilly, with a peer-reviewed publication still to come. Side effects are also real. At 12 mg, nausea affected 42.4% of participants (14.8% on placebo), dysaesthesia (unusual skin sensations) affected 12.5% (0.9% on placebo), and 11.3% stopped treatment because of side effects (4.9% on placebo).
Is Retatrutide Available in Australia Yet?
Not yet. The TGA confirms retatrutide hasn’t been approved by it or any comparable regulator. Lilly said in July that it will submit to the FDA in the first quarter of 2027, and regulators will then need time to review. We haven’t seen an announced TGA submission date.
Allowing for review time, late 2028 to early 2029 is a realistic window for Australian approval. That’s our estimate, not an official date, and it could shift. PBS subsidy is a separate decision again.
Why Has the TGA Warned About Retatrutide?
In April 2026, the TGA warned about rising imports of unapproved peptides and named retatrutide among them. Reports included severe allergic reactions that led to hospitalisation. Victorian health authorities have recorded six cases of acute liver injury in people who used an unapproved product labelled retatrutide. In September, TGA testing of one such product found undeclared semaglutide and no retatrutide.
“Research use only” means a product was made for laboratory work, not for people. Nobody checks the dose, purity or sterility before it’s injected. The TGA’s Chief Medical Adviser says the biggest risks are not knowing what’s in the vial, how much it contains, or whether it’s sterile.
Body Catalyst doesn’t prescribe or supply retatrutide, and we’d encourage you to steer clear of any product sold under its name. If you’ve already used one and feel unwell, see your GP promptly.
What Can You Do Right Now?
So is retatrutide available in Australia through a legitimate channel? It isn’t, but you have more options than the headlines suggest:
- Talk to your GP about approved medicines. Wegovy (semaglutide) is TGA-approved for chronic weight management, and so is Mounjaro (tirzepatide). Your doctor can assess eligibility.
- Ask about clinical trials. Your doctor or a specialist can tell you whether any Australian sites are recruiting.
- Check the TGA website for approval updates.
- Ask your GP or dietitian about protein and resistance training, which support muscle during weight loss.
How Can Body Contouring Support You on GLP-1 Therapy?
Weight loss on these medicines is mostly fat. In SURMOUNT-1, tirzepatide-induced weight loss was roughly three-quarters fat and one-quarter lean tissue, with lean tissue including water, organs, and muscle. Even so, plenty of people tell us their body feels softer and their skin looser after a big drop. We cover this in our guide to GLP-1 side effects.
Body Catalyst treatments are available today and target those concerns:
- TeslaFormer uses magnetic muscle stimulation on the abs, glutes, thighs and arms, while the TeslaChair works the pelvic floor. Sessions run 30 to 45 minutes and feel like a localised workout, so mild muscle soreness the next day is possible. Most plans start at around 10 sessions, with results visible two to four weeks after the last one.
- HIFU and radio-frequency skin-tightening procedures address loose skin on the face and body. Radio frequency gently heats the deeper skin layers where collagen and elastin are found, signalling your body to produce more. Sessions run 30 to 60 minutes, and a course of around 10 is usually recommended.
- Fat freezing targets stubborn pockets that diet and medication leave behind. It’s a contouring treatment for specific areas, so it suits people already close to their goal weight. Sessions take 40 to 60 minutes with no downtime, and changes usually show up in about 6 weeks, peaking around week 12.
- Fat cavitation uses ultrasound to target localised fat, and can be paired with radio frequency or fat freezing for areas that need extra attention.
- Cellulite reduction treatment pairs radio frequency with cavitation to smooth dimpling that can become more visible after weight loss.
These treatments sit alongside weight-loss medicine and shape, tone and tighten what’s left. Results vary from person to person.
Seeking Treatments to Complement Weight Loss
Already on a GLP-1, or thinking about it? Book a complimentary consultation, and a Body Catalyst therapist will map out which treatments suit your goals and timing.
