Cagrilintide
AM833 · long-acting amylin analog
−10.8% body weight at 26 weeks (monotherapy, Lancet 2021)
Overview
Cagrilintide is a long-acting analog of amylin, a hormone co-secreted with insulin that promotes satiety and slows gastric emptying. Engineering for stability extends its action to a once-weekly schedule, and it is frequently paired with GLP-1 agonists for complementary appetite control.
As monotherapy, a Phase 1b/2 study reported up to ~10.8% body-weight reduction at 26 weeks (versus ~3.0% on placebo). Its highest-profile use is in the fixed combination with semaglutide (CagriSema), where the two satiety mechanisms are additive.
Cagrilintide is investigational; the figures here are drawn from its published early-phase trials and the REDEFINE Phase 3 program.
Key parameters
- Dose range
- 0.3–4.5 mg weekly
- Frequency
- Once weekly
- Half-life
- ~7–9 days (≈180 h)
- Route
- Subcutaneous
- Vial sizes
- 5 mg · 10 mg
- Regulatory status
- Investigational. Studied as monotherapy and, most prominently, combined with semaglutide (CagriSema). Not approved; research-vial material is for laboratory use only.
Mechanism of action
Amylin receptor agonism
Activates amylin (AMY) receptor complexes to enhance satiety and reduce food intake.
Calcitonin receptor agonism
Cross-activates calcitonin receptors that form part of the amylin receptor complex, contributing to appetite effects.
Slowed gastric emptying
Prolongs post-meal fullness, complementing GLP-1-mediated satiety when stacked.
Dosing protocol & phases
| Phase | Weeks | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initiation | Weeks 1–4 | 0.3 mg once weekly | Low starting dose for tolerability. |
| Titration | Every 2–4 weeks | Step up (0.6 → 1.2 → 2.4 mg) | Schedule mirrors the CagriSema titration. |
| Maintenance | Ongoing | 2.4 mg weekly (up to 4.5 mg studied) | — |
Reconstitution guide
For educational and research reference only. Not intended for human consumption, not medical advice. Compounds discussed are sold and used for laboratory research purposes only.
5 mg vial + 2 mL bacteriostatic water
Concentration2,500 mcg/mL · 2.5 mg/mL
| Target dose | Draw volume | U-100 units |
|---|---|---|
| 300 mcg | 0.12 mL | 12 |
| 600 mcg | 0.24 mL | 24 |
| 1,200 mcg | 0.48 mL | 48 |
Suited to the early titration range.
10 mg vial + 2 mL bacteriostatic water
Concentration5,000 mcg/mL · 5 mg/mL
| Target dose | Draw volume | U-100 units |
|---|---|---|
| 2,400 mcg | 0.48 mL | 48 |
| 4,500 mcg | 0.9 mL | 90 |
Higher-strength mix for the 2.4–4.5 mg range.
Reconstitution calculator
Pre-filled with Cagrilintide's vial sizes. Adjust the water volume and target dose to see the exact draw, with warnings for doses that are hard to measure or won't fit a syringe.
At 2,500 micrograms per millilitre, a 300 microgram dose is 0.12 millilitres, or 12 units on a U-100 syringe, giving 16 doses per vial.
Supplies needed
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from supplier links, at no extra cost to you. For research and educational use only.
Recommended supply
Cagrilintide — research vial
From our verified partner Dynotides, with a third-party certificate of analysis per batch.
Injection supplies
- View
Bacteriostatic water
Diluent for reconstituting lyophilized vials.
- Buy
Insulin syringes (U-100)
0.3–0.5 mL, 29–31 G for accurate small draws.
- Buy
Alcohol prep pads
Sterile swabs for the vial stopper and site.
- Buy
Sharps container
Safe disposal of used needles.
- Buy
Storage fridge
Keeps reconstituted vials at 2–8 °C.
- Buy
Insulated travel case
Cooled, TSA-friendly case for travel.
Missed-dose guidance
No approved-label guidance exists. As with other weekly satiety peptides, the practical convention is to take a delayed dose if several days remain before the next one and otherwise skip it and resume the weekly schedule, without doubling up.
Side effects & safety
| Category | Effect | Trial incidence |
|---|---|---|
| Gastrointestinal | NauseaThe most common adverse effect with amylin analogs; dose-dependent and concentrated during titration, generally mild–moderate. | — |
| Gastrointestinal | Vomiting | — |
| Gastrointestinal | Decreased appetite / early satietyAn expected on-target effect rather than an adverse event per se. | — |
| Injection site | Local reactions | — |
Clinical trials & evidence
Phase 1b/2 dose-finding
Phase 226 weeks · Adults with overweight/obesity
Up to ~10.8% weight reduction as monotherapy.
NCT03856047 ↗REDEFINE 1 (CagriSema)
Phase 368 weeks · Adults with obesity
Cagrilintide + semaglutide combination; see CagriSema stack.
NCT05567796 ↗
Storage & handling
- Lyophilized
- Refrigerate lyophilized powder at 2–8 °C, protected from light.
- Reconstituted
- Refrigerate at 2–8 °C and use within ~28 days; do not freeze.
Comparisons
| Vs. | Target | Half-life | Dosing | Efficacy | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | Amylin vs GLP-1 | ~7–9 d vs ~7 d | Weekly (both) | Complementary — additive when combined (CagriSema) | Investigational vs approved |
Featured in these stacks
CagriSema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide)
CagriSema combines a long-acting amylin analog (cagrilintide) with a GLP-1 agonist (semaglutide), each titrated toward 2.4 mg weekly. The two appetite mechanisms — amylin-mediated and GLP-1-mediated satiety — are additive, and the combination has advanced through Phase 3 (REDEFINE) as a fixed-dose product.
Cagrilintide + Tirzepatide
This combination layers three appetite mechanisms by pairing the long-acting amylin analog cagrilintide with the dual-incretin agonist tirzepatide (GIP + GLP-1). The logic directly mirrors CagriSema — which combines amylin with GLP-1 — but substitutes tirzepatide, whose added GIP activity already produces some of the largest weight-loss figures of any approved single molecule (up to roughly 21% in SURMOUNT-1). Stacking amylin-mediated satiety on top is intended to push appetite suppression further still.
Cagrilintide + Retatrutide
This is the most aggressive weight-loss combination on paper: it stacks the long-acting amylin analog cagrilintide on top of retatrutide, the triple-G agonist that activates the GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptors at once. Retatrutide alone produced the largest weight reductions reported for any pharmacological agent in its Phase 2 trial — about 24% at 48 weeks, with the curve still falling — and the glucagon component adds an energy-expenditure mechanism on top of the appetite suppression shared with other incretins. Adding amylin-mediated satiety layers a fourth, mechanistically distinct hunger signal onto that base.
Sources & references
Frequently asked questions
What is amylin and why target it?
Amylin is a hormone released alongside insulin that signals fullness and slows stomach emptying. Cagrilintide mimics it in a long-acting form, adding a satiety pathway that is distinct from — and additive to — GLP-1 agonism.
Is cagrilintide usually used alone?
Most clinical interest is in combinations, especially CagriSema (with semaglutide), where the two mechanisms stack.
Related protocols
Semaglutide
Ozempic
−14.9% mean body weight at 68 weeks (STEP 1)
Tirzepatide
Mounjaro
−20.9% body weight at 72 weeks, 15 mg (SURMOUNT-1)
Retatrutide
LY3437943
−24.2% body weight at 48 weeks, 12 mg (Phase 2, NEJM 2023)
Looking to match this protocol to a verified research vial? Our partner supplier publishes a certificate of analysis per batch.
For educational and research reference only. Not intended for human consumption, not medical advice. Compounds discussed are sold and used for laboratory research purposes only.