New: free dose calculator with 14 peptide presets. No signup.
Peptides Academy
Cagrilintide
GLP-1 Analogs

Cagrilintide

Novo Nordisk

Cagrilintide is a stable, lipidated, long-acting analogue of amylin, a pancreatic hormone that induces satiety. The older amylin analogue pramlintide needs injecting three times a day because of its short half-life; cagrilintide was designed for once-weekly dosing. Structural studies show it activates both amylin receptors and the calcitonin receptor. As monotherapy, a 26-week phase 2 dose-finding trial (Lau et al., Lancet 2021) found mean weight reductions of 6.0–10.8% across doses of 0.3–4.5 mg weekly, versus 3.0% with placebo. The 4.5 mg dose (10.8%) beat liraglutide 3.0 mg (9.0%). The main clinical programme combines cagrilintide 2.4 mg with semaglutide 2.4 mg as CagriSema. In the phase 3 REDEFINE 1 trial (adults with overweight or obesity, no diabetes), mean body-weight change at 68 weeks was −20.4% with CagriSema versus −3.0% with placebo. In REDEFINE 2 (adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes) it was −13.7% versus −3.4%. Gastrointestinal adverse events were common: 79.6% versus 39.9% with placebo in REDEFINE 1. They were mainly transient and mild to moderate. Cagrilintide is not FDA-approved. The FDA has issued warning letters treating cagrilintide sold online as an unapproved new drug.

Specifications

Origin / ManufacturerSynthetic (amylin analog)
Active Components
Cagrilintide
Storage2–8°C; do not freeze
Form FactorPre-filled pen (solution for injection)

Clinical Evidence

Lau et al. (Lancet 2021), phase 2, 706 adults on cagrilintide: 26-week weight loss was 6.0–10.8% across 0.3–4.5 mg weekly, vs 3.0% with placebo; 4.5 mg beat liraglutide 3.0 mg (10.8% vs 9.0%).

Clinical report reference

Enebo et al. (Lancet 2021), phase 1b: cagrilintide half-life was 159–195 h, and co-administration did not affect semaglutide exposure.

Clinical report reference

Frias et al. (Lancet 2023), phase 2 in type 2 diabetes: at 32 weeks, HbA1c fell 2.2 points with CagriSema vs 1.8 with semaglutide (difference not significant) and 0.9 with cagrilintide; weight loss was 15.6% vs 5.1% vs 8.1%.

Clinical report reference

Garvey et al. (NEJM 2025), REDEFINE 1: CagriSema gave −20.4% body weight at 68 weeks vs −3.0% with placebo.

Clinical report reference

Davies et al. (NEJM 2025), REDEFINE 2 (obesity plus type 2 diabetes): −13.7% vs −3.4% with placebo; 73.5% vs 15.9% reached HbA1c ≤6.5%.

Clinical report reference

Buse et al. (Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2026), REIMAGINE 2: at 68 weeks, CagriSema 2.4/2.4 mg was superior to semaglutide 2.4 mg for HbA1c (−1.91 vs −1.75 points).

Clinical report reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & References

Every clinical claim on this page traces to a primary peer-reviewed source.

  1. 1Lau DCW, Erichsen L, Francisco AM, et al.. Once-weekly cagrilintide for weight management in people with overweight and obesity: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled and active-controlled, dose-finding phase 2 trial. Lancet (London, England). 2021;398(10317):2160-2172. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01751-7 PMID:34798060
  2. 2Frias JP, Deenadayalan S, Erichsen L, et al.. Efficacy and safety of co-administered once-weekly cagrilintide 2·4 mg with once-weekly semaglutide 2·4 mg in type 2 diabetes: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet (London, England). 2023;402(10403):720-730. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01163-7 PMID:37364590
  3. 3Enebo LB, Berthelsen KK, Kankam M, et al.. Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of concomitant administration of multiple doses of cagrilintide with semaglutide 2·4 mg for weight management: a randomised, controlled, phase 1b trial. Lancet (London, England). 2021;397(10286):1736-1748. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00845-X PMID:33894838
  4. 4Garvey WT, Blüher M, Osorto Contreras CK, et al.. Coadministered Cagrilintide and Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. The New England journal of medicine. 2025;393(7):635-647. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2502081 PMID:40544433
  5. 5Davies MJ, Bajaj HS, Broholm C, et al.. Cagrilintide-Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. The New England journal of medicine. 2025;393(7):648-659. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2502082 PMID:40544432
  6. 6Buse JB, Bajaj HS, Dalskov SM, et al.. Cagrilintide-semaglutide (CagriSema) versus semaglutide or cagrilintide in people with type 2 diabetes (REIMAGINE 2): a double-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 3 study. The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology. 2026;14(8):662-677. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(26)00125-7 PMID:42251859
  7. 7Kruse T, Hansen JL, Dahl K, et al.. Development of Cagrilintide, a Long-Acting Amylin Analogue. Journal of medicinal chemistry. 2021;64(15):11183-11194. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00565 PMID:34288673
  8. 8Gu YM, Yuan QN, Li X, et al.. Structural and mechanistic insights into dual activation of cagrilintide in amylin and calcitonin receptors. Acta pharmacologica Sinica. 2026;47(1):162-172. doi:10.1038/s41401-025-01635-2 PMID:40847076
  9. 9U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Warning Letter: Summit Research Peptides (MARCS-CMS 695607). FDA Warning Letters. 2024.

Reviewed by

Clinical Research Review Board

Endocrinology & Obesity Medicine Review

All clinical claims cross-checked against primary sources. Read our editorial policy →

Related Peptides

Liraglutide
glp 1-analog

Liraglutide

Saxenda / Victoza

The first GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for chronic weight management (Saxenda, 2014) — an acylated human GLP-1 analog with ~13-hour half-life dosed once daily.

0.6–3 mg daily (escalating)FDA-approved (Victoza, Saxenda)
Retatrutide
tirzepatide class

Retatrutide

Eli Lilly (investigational)

An investigational triple GIP / GLP-1 / glucagon receptor agonist from Eli Lilly. In the phase 3 TRIUMPH-1 trial, adults with obesity on 12 mg weekly lost a mean 25.0% of body weight at 80 weeks (vs 3.9% on placebo). Not FDA-approved.

Phase 3 investigational (no approvals as of 2026)
Semaglutide
glp 1-analog

Semaglutide

Ozempic / Wegovy / Rybelsus

Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist — FDA-approved for type-2 diabetes and chronic weight management, landmark for its ~15% mean weight reduction in STEP trials.

Ozempic: 0.25–2 mg weekly; Wegovy: up to 2.4 mg weeklyFDA-approved (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus)
Tirzepatide
tirzepatide class

Tirzepatide

Mounjaro / Zepbound

First-in-class dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist — SURMOUNT trials showed ~20% mean weight reduction and superior A1c control versus semaglutide.

2.5–15 mg weekly (escalating)FDA-approved (Mounjaro T2D, Zepbound obesity)
Reviewed by Clinical Research Review BoardEndocrinology & Obesity Medicine Review

Search

Search across products, blog posts, wiki articles, and more.