Peptides Academy
Cagrilintide
Novo Nordisk
Cagrilintide is an acylated, long-acting analog of human amylin — a 37-amino-acid peptide co-secreted with insulin from pancreatic beta cells. Amylin's physiological roles include slowing gastric emptying, suppressing glucagon secretion, and promoting satiety via area postrema signaling in the brainstem. Native amylin (pramlintide) requires multiple daily injections; cagrilintide's acylation enables weekly dosing. The major clinical program combines cagrilintide with semaglutide 2.4 mg as CagriSema, targeting dual satiety pathways (amylin + GLP-1). Phase 3 REDEFINE trials have reported ~24% weight loss at 68 weeks — exceeding semaglutide monotherapy (~16%) and tirzepatide's typical range. This positions CagriSema as potentially the most effective pharmacological weight-loss intervention studied to date. Cagrilintide as monotherapy has also shown ~10% weight loss in Phase 2, confirming independent efficacy of the amylin pathway.
Specifications
| Origin / Manufacturer | Synthetic (amylin analog) |
| Active Components | Cagrilintide |
| Storage | 2–8°C; do not freeze |
| Form Factor | Pre-filled pen (solution for injection) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
Every clinical claim on this page traces to a primary peer-reviewed source.
- 1Lau DCW, Erichsen L, Francisco-Ziller N, et al.. Once-weekly cagrilintide for weight management in people with overweight and obesity. The Lancet. 2023;398(10317):2160-2172. PMID:34798060
- 2Frias JP, Deenadayalan S, Erichsen L, et al.. Efficacy and safety of co-administered once-weekly cagrilintide 2.4 mg with subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg in type 2 diabetes. The Lancet. 2023;402:720-730.
Reviewed by
Clinical Research Review Board
Endocrinology & Obesity Medicine Review
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