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Cagrilintide

Metabolic & Weight Loss

Cagrilintide is a novel, long-acting amylin analogue developed for weight loss and metabolic support. It works by mimicking the hormone amylin, enhancing satiety and reducing caloric intake. Clinical trials have demonstrated robust weight reduction, especially when co-administered with semaglutide. Still investigational, it shows promise in future obesity pharmacotherapy pipelines. It is often combined with GLP-1 agonists in research settings for additive effects on satiety

Reconstitute
3 mL BAC + 10mg vial
33 mcg/unit
Daily Range
0.25–4.5 mg Subcutaneous (SQ)
Weekly
Standard Dose
1 mg
Cycle
4–8 weeks
then reassess
Amylin analogueWeight lossObesity treatmentSatietyCagrilintide

Dosing & Reconstitution Guide

In clinical trials, cagrilintide has been dosed at 0.3–4.5 mg weekly. These findings apply only to research settings.

Standard / Gradual Approach

10mg Vialstandard
PhaseDoseVolume
Weeks 1–20.6 mg18 units
Weeks 3–41.2 mg36 units
Weeks 5–62.4 mg72 units
Weeks 7–16 (Maintenance)4.5 mg135 units

Standard / Gradual Approach

5mg Vialstandard
PhaseDoseVolume
Weeks 1–20.6 mg36 units
Weeks 3–41.2 mg72 units
Weeks 5–62.4 mg144 units
Weeks 7–16 (Maintenance)4.5 mg270 units

Protocol Summary

Subcutaneous (SQ): Weekly · Dose range 0.25–4.5 mg with gradual titration
Cycle Length: 4–8 weeks typical; reassess before extending

Frequency & Cycling

SubQ Injection

Inject once weekly; cycle continuously with physician monitoring. Adjust dose upward gradually based on GI tolerance and weight response. Often paired with GLP-1 analogues like semaglutide for synergy.

🧪 Quick Start

Vial Size
10 mg
BAC Water
3 mL
Concentration
3.33 mcg/unit
Starting Dose
0.6 mg (18 units)
Maintenance Dose
4.5 mg (135 units)

Potential Benefits & Use Cases

Cagrilintide is not approved for general use. All usage described refers to clinical research protocols.
Achieves ~10.8% body weight loss at 4.5 mg/week over 26 weeks (Phase 2)
Combined with semaglutide (CagriSema): ~20% weight loss at 68 weeks, exceeding either agent alone (Phase 3)
31% of patients achieved ≥15% weight loss on monotherapy vs 5.2% placebo (Phase 2)
Works via novel amylin receptor pathway — distinct mechanism from GLP-1 drugs (human trial)
Reduces postprandial glucagon secretion, improving glucose homeostasis (human trial)
Clinical data Strong preclinical Limited data

Mechanism of Action

→Amylin receptor agonist
→Delays gastric emptying and suppresses glucagon
→Enhances satiety via CNS signaling
→Reduces food intake and modulates energy balance

Lifestyle & Optimization

timing

Weekly injection. Consistent timing each week.

diet

Balanced protein-forward diet. Monitor hydration and electrolytes for GI effects.

exercise

Resistance and aerobic activity.

sleep

Adequate sleep (7–9 hours).

Peptide Research & Preclinical Studies

Evidence-Based Research Findings

Study TitleType
The Lancet — Frias JP et al. (2023) Cagrilintide plus semaglutide (CagriSema) Phase 2 resultsReference
Novo Nordisk Press Release — CagriSema Phase 3 REDEFINE trials overviewReference
ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT05567796: CagriSema REDEFINE 1 Phase 3 trialReference
Diabetes Care — Cagrilintide long-acting amylin analog for diabetesReference
Nature Reviews Drug Discovery — Amylin receptor agonists in obesity/diabetesReference

Side Effects & Safety

Common Side Effects

• Nausea (47–55%), vomiting (26%), diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain

Contraindications & Warnings

• 79.6% GI events with CagriSema combo vs 39.9% placebo

🧮 Dose Calculator

Concentration
33.3
mcg/unit
Draw Volume
15
units (0.150 mL)
For a 500 mcg dose, draw 15 units on a U-100 insulin syringe
🧬

Bioavailability & Absorption

SubQ Injection
High bioavailability through subcutaneous administration with effective weight-lowering effects.
Oral Administration
Not available orally; low oral bioavailability due to peptide degradation
Intranasal
N/A
Half-Life
Estimated 4–7 days supporting weekly dosing
Degradation
Metabolized primarily by proteolytic enzymes
Tissue Specificity
Targets hypothalamic satiety centers and gastric pathways
⚗️

Peptide Details

Molecular Weight
3962.33
Formula
C173H271N51O53S1
Sequence
N/A
⚖️

Legal Status & Regulatory

RegionStatus
FDANot Approved
EUNot Approved
AustraliaNot Approved
CanadaNot Approved

Storage Instructions

Lyophilized (Powder)
store frozen at −20 °C (−4 °F); after reconstitution, refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F) and use within 30 days
Reconstituted (Mixed)
Refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F); use within 30 days and avoid freeze–thaw cycles