Engineers use AI, Reddit to identify potential side effects of unapproved new GLP-1
Retatrutide, a next-generation GLP-1 weight-loss drug, is not yet approved for use. Nevertheless, online forums reveal that people are purchasing unapproved versions of the drug, which are not intended for human consumption, and sharing their experiences.
Retatrutide, an unapproved weight-loss drug, is being investigated through the analysis of Reddit posts. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have used AI to review nearly 150,000 posts and comments from approximately 40,000 Reddit users. Their goal is to identify potential side effects that may not be caught by conventional drug safety monitoring.
The most frequently reported symptom in the Reddit sample was increased appetite, which differs from retatrutide's phase 2 clinical trials that identified gastrointestinal complaints as the most common side effects. The researchers caution that their findings should not be taken as evidence of previously unrecognized side effects, as the drug is not legally available and gray-market formulations vary.
Instead, they see the results as a starting point for further investigation. This study builds on earlier research by the same team, which used large language models to analyze Reddit posts about semaglutide and tirzepatide, identifying potential side effects not fully captured in clinical trials or regulatory documents.
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