Why a Science Blog on a Review Site
Vendor reviews are only as useful as your ability to evaluate what vendors claim. These explainers cover the underlying science - what peptides and GLP-1 agonists actually are, what retatrutide's trial data actually showed - and the literacy skills the grey market punishes you for lacking: reading a Certificate of Analysis, understanding third-party testing, and reading Reddit threads without being manipulated.
The Data Digest: Key Numbers in One Place
Every explainer below is anchored in published data rather than vendor claims. The three trials that dominate every GLP-1 conversation:
| Compound | Trial (publication) | Duration | Dose | Mean weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | STEP 1, NEJM 2021 (n=1,961) | 68 weeks | 2.4 mg weekly | −14.9% vs −2.4% placebo |
| Tirzepatide | SURMOUNT-1, NEJM 2022 (n=2,539) | 72 weeks | 5 / 10 / 15 mg weekly | −15.0% / −19.5% / −20.9% vs −3.1% placebo |
| Retatrutide | Phase 2, NEJM 2023 (n=338) | 48 weeks | up to 12 mg weekly | −24.2% at the highest dose (Phase 2; investigational) |
Demand-side context, from public sources: a KFF Health Tracking Poll (May 2024) found roughly 12% of U.S. adults reported ever using a GLP-1 medication (about 6% currently), while Goldman Sachs Research projected in 2023 that the anti-obesity medication market could reach roughly $100 billion annually by 2030. That combination - dramatic trial data plus mass demand priced out of or rationed out of licensed channels - is the mechanism that created the grey market this site covers.
What each explainer gives you, at a glance:
| Explainer | Core question answered | Key data or parameters covered |
|---|---|---|
| What Is Retatrutide? | What the investigational triple agonist actually is | Phase 2 trial (n=338, −24.2% at 48 weeks), half-life, receptor targets |
| GLP-1 Agonists Explained | How the whole drug class works | Receptor mechanisms, half-lives, titration schedules, usage data |
| What Are Peptides? | What “peptide” means chemically | Length classes, bioavailability, peptide-vs-small-molecule comparison |
| How to Read a COA | What a Certificate of Analysis proves | HPLC/MS/AAA/LAL method comparison, chromatogram parameters |
| Reading Reddit Reviews | How to read community sentiment without being manipulated | Account forensics, manipulation taxonomy, base-rate rules |
| Purity & Third-Party Testing | What purity claims and lab tests are worth | Purity tiers, testing costs and cadence, coverage limits |
All Articles
What Is Retatrutide? The Triple Agonist Explained
A plain-language explainer of retatrutide: how the GIP/GLP-1/glucagon triple agonist works, what Phase 2 trials reported, and why it is still investigational.
GLP-1 Agonists Explained: How the Drug Class Works
GLP-1 agonists explained: what the hormone does, how agonist medicines mimic it, which products are approved, and what that means for grey-market versions.
What Are Peptides? A Beginner’s Guide
Peptides explained for beginners: what they are, how they relate to proteins, how they are made, and why some become medicines while others stay research chemicals.
How to Read a Peptide COA (Certificate of Analysis)
How to read a peptide COA: HPLC purity, mass spectrometry identity, net peptide content vs purity, batch matching, and the tricks low-quality certificates use.
How to Read Reddit Peptide Reviews Without Being Misled
How to read Reddit peptide reviews critically: astroturfing patterns, survivorship bias, account-age signals, and how to extract real signal from vendor threads.
Peptide Purity and Third-Party Testing: Why It Matters
Peptide purity and third-party testing explained: why vendor self-testing is not enough, what independent labs check, and how to verify a third-party result.