Cagrilintide
A long-acting amylin analog that powerfully suppresses appetite and complements GLP-1 agonists for breakthrough weight loss.
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Compound Profile
Cagrilintide
Key Data
Research reference only
Research Focus
Preclinical data
⚠ Research & Educational Use Only. Cagrilintide is a research chemical documented here for scientific education. All information references peer-reviewed literature and preclinical/clinical study data. Not for human consumption. Not medical advice. Consult a licensed researcher or healthcare professional before any laboratory use.
- Long-acting amylin analog with 7–8 day half-life - convenient once-weekly dosing
- Produces 10.8% weight loss as monotherapy in clinical trials - comparable to GLP-1 agonists alone
- CagriSema combination (2.4 mg cagrilintide + 2.4 mg semaglutide) produced 15.6% weight loss in Phase 2 - substantially greater than either alone
- Cagrilintide is not FDA-approved for human use. Investigational compound - Phase 3 trials ongoing (REDEFINE programme). Not FDA-approved.
Research At a Glance
- Long-acting amylin analog with 7–8 day half-life - convenient once-weekly dosing
- Produces 10.8% weight loss as monotherapy in clinical trials - comparable to GLP-1 agonists alone
- CagriSema combination (2.4 mg cagrilintide + 2.4 mg semaglutide) produced 15.6% weight loss in Phase 2 - substantially greater than either alone
- Suppresses post-meal glucagon release - reducing post-meal blood glucose spikes
In Plain English
Simple summaryCagrilintide is a long-acting amylin analogue developed by Novo Nordisk, designed to be co-administered with semaglutide in the combination product CagriSema. Amylin is a peptide co-secreted with insulin from pancreatic beta cells that slows gastric emptying, suppresses glucagon, and signals satiety through the brain -- a mechanism that's complementary but distinct from GLP-1. The rationale for combining them is straightforward: hit two separate satiety pathways simultaneously for additive or synergistic weight loss. Early Phase 2 data showed CagriSema (2.4 mg semaglutide + 2.4 mg cagrilintide) produced average weight loss around 15% at 32 weeks -- with Phase 3 results now emerging showing figures in the 22-25% range, approaching tirzepatide territory.
- Long-acting amylin analog with 7–8 day half-life - convenient once-weekly dosing
- Produces 10.8% weight loss as monotherapy in clinical trials - comparable to GLP-1 agonists alone
- CagriSema combination produced 15.6% weight loss in Phase 2 - substantially greater than either alone
The full scientific detail, mechanisms, citations, and dosing data, follows below.
What is Cagrilintide?
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Cagrilintide is a long-acting synthetic analogue of amylin, a pancreatic hormone co-secreted with insulin that reduces post-meal blood glucose, slows gastric emptying, and suppresses appetite. It is being developed by Novo Nordisk in combination with semaglutide (CagriSema) for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
What It Is
- A modified amylin analogue with fatty acid conjugation and multiple sequence modifications to extend half-life to approximately 7-10 days (vs hours for native amylin)
- Acts on amylin receptors (AMY1-3) in the area postrema and hypothalamus
- Complementary mechanism to GLP-1 receptor agonists: while GLP-1 agonists act on hindbrain and hypothalamic GLP-1 receptors, amylin receptors provide additive and synergistic appetite suppression
- Currently in Phase 3 clinical trials (REDEFINE programme) as CagriSema (2.4 mg semaglutide + 2.4 mg cagrilintide weekly)
How It Works
- Amylin receptor activation in the area postrema and NTS (nucleus tractus solitarius) reduces meal size and frequency
- Slows gastric emptying, blunting post-meal glucose spikes (reduces post-meal glucose by 2-4 mmol/L in type 2 diabetes)
- Suppresses glucagon secretion from pancreatic alpha cells during hyperglycaemia
- Fatty acid conjugation enables albumin binding, extending half-life to 7-10 days for once-weekly subcutaneous dosing
- Synergy with semaglutide: amylin and GLP-1 receptors activate complementary hypothalamic circuits; combining both produces greater weight loss than either alone
Key Research Findings
- SCALE-CAGRI Phase 2 trial (n=96, 26 weeks): cagrilintide 2.4 mg weekly alone produced 10.8% body weight reduction vs 3% placebo; GLP-1 agonist (semaglutide) reference arm produced 15.6% weight loss
- CagriSema Phase 2 (n=243, 32 weeks): combination produced 15.6-17.1% body weight loss depending on dose vs 5.1% semaglutide alone; 27% of combination-treated patients lost more than 25% of body weight
- Example patient: a 100 kg baseline patient would expect approximately 15-17 kg loss over 32 weeks with CagriSema vs 5 kg with semaglutide alone
- Glucose control: HbA1c reduction of 2.2% in type 2 diabetes patients receiving CagriSema vs 1.7% semaglutide alone
Dosing From the Literature
- Phase 2 dose range: 0.3-2.4 mg subcutaneous weekly (dose escalation over 16 weeks)
- Phase 3 target dose: 2.4 mg subcutaneous weekly (matching semaglutide 2.4 mg)
- Not yet approved; investigational
Storage and Handling
- Multi-dose pen device in Phase 3 (analogous to semaglutide Ozempic pen)
- Store at 2-8 degrees C; once opened, stable at room temperature (up to 30 degrees C) for 6 weeks
- Do not freeze
By the Numbers
Key Research Benefits
Documented effects observed in preclinical and clinical studies on Cagrilintide. See all Metabolic & Weight peptides for comparison.
Side Effects & Risks
Adverse effects reported in the research literature. All data sourced from preclinical and clinical study reports. View all peptides' side effects →
Dosing Data from the Literature
Doses referenced below are sourced from published preclinical and clinical studies. Use the peptide dose calculator to convert these values to injection volume.
Cagrilintide clinical trial protocols used the following weekly doses: 0.3 mg, 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 2.4 mg and 4.5 mg. The 2.4 mg weekly dose is the most studied and produced 10.8% weight loss as monotherapy.
The breakthrough application is the CagriSema combination - 2.4 mg cagrilintide + 2.4 mg semaglutide once weekly. Phase 2b data showed 15.6% weight loss at 32 weeks, superior to either compound alone. Phase 3 (REDEFINE programme) is investigating whether this approaches or exceeds tirzepatide and retatrutide efficacy.
Research community protocols typically start at 0.3–0.6 mg weekly and escalate by 0.3 mg every 4 weeks based on tolerance.
Administration in Research Settings
Standard reconstitution and administration methodology for laboratory research use.
Administer cagrilintide once weekly via subcutaneous injection. Standard sites: abdomen, thigh, upper arm. Rotate sites each week. When combining with semaglutide (the most researched protocol), each compound is administered in separate injections - they should not be mixed in the same syringe as they are not co-formulated.
The once-weekly, any-time-of-day dosing schedule is identical to semaglutide. Meals do not need to be timed around injections. Store reconstituted solution at 2–8°C and use within 28 days. Do not freeze reconstituted peptide.
What the research doesn't show
CagriSema's Phase 3 results have been impressive but the final regulatory picture isn't complete as of mid-2026. Combination therapies tend to compound side effects alongside benefits -- nausea and gastrointestinal effects in early trials have been notable. The long-term cardiovascular outcomes data that semaglutide accumulated over years doesn't yet exist for cagrilintide combinations.
Research Video
Medical Expert Videos
Physicians, researchers, and pharmacologists explain Cagrilintide, covering mechanisms of action, clinical context, and study findings.
Videos sourced from YouTube search. KnowYourPeptide does not endorse any individual creator. For research education only.
The Bottom Line
Cagrilintide has a growing body of preclinical evidence and a well-characterised safety profile in research settings. The most-studied application is: long-acting amylin analog with 7–8 day half-life - convenient once-weekly dosing.
The most commonly reported side effect in research subjects is nausea - particularly in the first weeks; generally less severe than glp-1 agonists. It is a research chemical, not approved for human use.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Quick Reference
How It Compares
Tirzepatide (GLP-1 + GIP dual agonist) is the primary competitor in the next-gen weight loss space. CagriSema pairs GLP-1 with amylin signaling instead of GIP. Pramlintide is the shorter-acting, older amylin analogue (FDA-approved for Type 1 and 2 diabetes) that proves the amylin mechanism works in humans. Cagrilintide is pramlintide's once-weekly successor built for combination use.
Compare Cagrilintide side-by-sideResearch Use Only
This information is for educational research purposes only. This is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional.