Long-acting amylin receptor agonist developed by Novo Nordisk, researched for appetite regulation and weight management alongside semaglutide (CagriSema).
Last Updated: May 2026
Cagrilintide is an investigational long-acting amylin receptor agonist developed by Novo Nordisk, primarily studied in combination with semaglutide as the fixed-dose investigational therapy CagriSema. Cagrilintide is not approved for any indication as of May 2026, and is sold as a research-use-only compound by third-party laboratories. The CagriSema combination is in Phase 3 (REDEFINE program) for obesity and Phase 3 (REIMAGINE) for type 2 diabetes.
Cagrilintide is a long-acting analog of human amylin, the pancreatic hormone co-secreted with insulin that signals satiety, slows gastric emptying, and suppresses postprandial glucagon. Native amylin has a 13-minute half-life; cagrilintide's modifications extend that to approximately 7 days for once-weekly subcutaneous dosing. The compound activates calcitonin and amylin receptors, producing complementary appetite-suppression effects when paired with GLP-1 agonism. Evidence level: Human RCT (Phase 2 monotherapy; Phase 3 in combination).
In a Phase 2 monotherapy trial (n=706), cagrilintide produced approximately 10.8% weight loss at the 4.5 mg dose over 26 weeks; the Phase 3 REDEFINE-1 trial of CagriSema (cagrilintide + semaglutide) reported 20.4% weight loss at 68 weeks in adults with obesity, slightly below the original "30%-plus" market expectations but still exceeding semaglutide monotherapy. Full REDEFINE program results are expected to support a 2026–2027 NDA filing. Evidence level: Human RCT (Phase 2 monotherapy, Phase 3 combination).
Cagrilintide alone produces modest weight loss similar to semaglutide; the strategic value is in combination — CagriSema's 20.4% result outperforms semaglutide monotherapy and is competitive with tirzepatide. Unlike retatrutide, cagrilintide does not engage glucagon or GIP receptors; the amylin mechanism is genuinely additive rather than overlapping.
| Compound | Mechanism | Phase 3 weight loss | Regulatory status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retatrutide | GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon (triple) | 28.7% — TRIUMPH-4, 68 wks | Investigational |
| Tirzepatide | GLP-1 + GIP (dual) | 22.5% — SURMOUNT-1, 72 wks | FDA-approved |
| CagriSema (cagrilintide + semaglutide) | Amylin + GLP-1 | 20.4% — REDEFINE-1, 68 wks | Investigational |
| Semaglutide | GLP-1 (single) | 14.9% — STEP 1, 68 wks | FDA-approved |
The most common cagrilintide side effects in Phase 2 monotherapy and Phase 3 combination trials were gastrointestinal — nausea, vomiting, constipation — generally mild and concentrated in the dose-escalation phase, with profile broadly similar to GLP-1 monotherapy. Injection-site reactions occurred more frequently with cagrilintide than with semaglutide alone. The CagriSema combination's tolerability profile in REDEFINE-1 was acceptable but did not show the expected step-change improvement over semaglutide monotherapy. Evidence level: Human RCT (Phase 2 and Phase 3).
Cagrilintide is not approved for any indication as of May 2026. Novo Nordisk's Phase 3 REDEFINE and REIMAGINE programs are expected to support an NDA filing in 2026–2027, with potential FDA approval in 2027–2028. Cagrilintide and CagriSema are both investigational. Current regulatory context is in our FDA peptide regulation 2025–2026 timeline.
The manufacturing base for cagrilintide is narrow — fewer laboratories produce it at scale than semaglutide or tirzepatide — which creates wider purity variance and higher risk of inconsistent batches. Independent HPLC purity testing and mass spectrometry identity confirmation are the only meaningful purity signals a research-grade vendor can provide. Buyers should also verify whether they're purchasing cagrilintide alone or a pre-combined CagriSema research blend; these are not interchangeable. Learn how to interpret COAs in our how-to-test-peptides hub.
Peptigrity purchases cagrilintide vials anonymously at standard customer pricing, sends them to ISO-accredited third-party labs for HPLC and mass spectrometry analysis, and publishes the unedited certificate of analysis. The lab test table above this section shows the cross-shop dataset. Tests come from labs including Freedom Diagnostics, Janoshik Analytical, and Chromate. Methodology in how we calculate trust scores.
The only reliable purity signal is an independent third-party HPLC certificate of analysis from a lab the vendor does not own or pay. Peptigrity publishes independent cagrilintide test results from ISO-accredited labs in the table above. For COA interpretation, see red flags in peptide certificates of analysis.
Cagrilintide is legal to purchase as a research chemical for laboratory use in most jurisdictions, but it is not approved for human consumption. Buyers are responsible for verifying local import rules — full country breakdown in our peptide legal status guide.
No approval has been granted as of May 2026. Novo Nordisk's REDEFINE program (Phase 3 in obesity) and REIMAGINE program (Phase 3 in type 2 diabetes) are expected to support an NDA filing in 2026–2027, with FDA approval most plausibly in 2027–2028. Track regulatory developments in FDA peptide regulation 2025–2026 timeline.
Cagrilintide is the amylin receptor agonist on its own; CagriSema is the fixed-dose combination of cagrilintide plus semaglutide in a single weekly injection. Cagrilintide monotherapy produces modest weight loss (~10%); CagriSema produces larger weight loss (~20%) because the amylin and GLP-1 mechanisms are additive.
No. Cagrilintide is not approved for human consumption and Peptigrity is an independent review platform, not a medical authority. The doses studied in Phase 2 monotherapy (0.3 mg through 4.5 mg weekly) and Phase 3 CagriSema combination were administered under clinical supervision. Anyone considering investigational compound use should consult a licensed physician.
Tirzepatide monotherapy outperforms cagrilintide monotherapy; CagriSema (cagrilintide + semaglutide) lands close to tirzepatide on weight loss but has not been compared head-to-head in Phase 3. SURMOUNT-1 reported 22.5% for tirzepatide; REDEFINE-1 reported 20.4% for CagriSema. Cross-compound comparison context in comparing semaglutide and tirzepatide.
This section is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Cagrilintide is an investigational compound not approved by the FDA or any other regulator for human use. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any peptide or research compound. Peptigrity is an independent review platform and does not sell, endorse, or recommend specific products or vendors.
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