Retatrutide: how to get it legally

The legal routes at a glance

Every other source of "retatrutide" is outside the law. Lilly states that "anyone purporting to sell retatrutide to consumers is breaking the law."^[4]

How to get retatrutide through a clinical trial

A clinical trial is the most direct legal way to receive retatrutide, but very few are open. On November 13, 2026, ClinicalTrials.gov listed 33 studies with retatrutide as an intervention: 21 completed, 9 active but not recruiting, 2 recruiting, and 1 expanded-access program.^[1]

The big obesity trials (TRIUMPH-5 to TRIUMPH-9 and the 10,000-person outcomes trial) are fully enrolled; every study is listed in the retatrutide clinical trials tracker.^[1] No recruiting U.S. trial of retatrutide alone for obesity was listed on that date. Keep in mind that in a placebo-controlled or multi-drug trial you may not receive retatrutide at all.

To check for new studies yourself:

1. Search ClinicalTrials.gov with "retatrutide" in the intervention field.
2. Filter the status to "Recruiting" or "Not yet recruiting".
3. Read the eligibility criteria and the list of locations.
4. Contact the study site named in the record. Trial sites, not websites selling vials, decide who enrolls.

Early access through your doctor

Since June 2026 Lilly has run a single-patient expanded-access program. It is meant for adults with a BMI of 35 or more, two or more serious obesity-related complications and no response to the highest approved dose of an existing treatment, who cannot join a trial. Only the treating physician can make the request.^[2] This is the narrowest route, and most people will not qualify. The full criteria and the request steps are on the Eli Lilly retatrutide early access page. The FDA's general rules for expanded access also apply.^[8]

Prescription after FDA approval

Doctors cannot prescribe retatrutide until it is approved. In July 2026 Lilly said it was completing the manufacturing section of its application and "plans to subsequently submit retatrutide in Q1 2027 for U.S. approval."^[3] The FDA then has to review the application. Lilly has not given an expected approval date. Follow the retatrutide FDA approval page for updates.

Routes that are not legal

• "Research use only" websites. The FDA has found products labeled "not for human consumption" being sold to consumers for human use with dosing instructions.^[5]
• Compounding pharmacies. The FDA says "retatrutide and cagrilintide cannot be used in compounding under federal law."^[5]
• Telehealth companies and medical spas. The FDA has warned telehealth firms over retatrutide, and in August 2026 Lilly sued compounding pharmacies, medical spas and online sellers.^[5][6] See Eli Lilly retatrutide lawsuits.
• Importing it. The FDA's 2025 "green list" import alert targets unapproved GLP-1 ingredients at the border.^[7]

Products from these sources have not been checked for identity, strength or sterility. More detail: retatrutide peptide sold online.

Retatrutide in Canada, Australia and the UK

The answer is the same outside the United States: retatrutide is not approved by any regulator anywhere, including Health Canada, Australia's TGA and the UK's MHRA.^[4] The legal routes are the same too: a clinical trial, or expanded access where the local regulator allows it. Under Lilly's program, the regulator in the patient's country must approve each request.^[2] The recruiting liver-disease trial runs in 34 countries; check ClinicalTrials.gov for sites near you.^[1]

Approved medicines that exist now

Retatrutide is not the only option for weight management. Tirzepatide (Zepbound) and semaglutide (Wegovy) are already FDA-approved. How retatrutide's trial results compare with theirs is covered in retatrutide vs tirzepatide and retatrutide vs semaglutide. Whether any medicine is right for you is a question for a licensed clinician.