Cagrilintide Overview
Mechanism of Action
Cagrilintide is a long-acting acylated amylin analog. Amylin is co-secreted with insulin and acts on the area postrema to enhance satiety, slow gastric emptying, and suppress glucagon. Cagrilintide’s fatty acid modification enables once-weekly dosing by promoting albumin binding. It activates amylin receptors (AMY1/AMY3) for potent appetite suppression.
~7 days
Timing
Same day each week
Injection Site
Subcutaneous
Food
No restrictions
Alternatives in this class
Same mechanism as Cagrilintide — use as an alternative, not combined together.
- GLP-1 Agonist (Semaglutide) — CagriSema dual mechanism
Common Stacks
- Lifestyle modification
Cagrilintide Dosing Protocol
Initiation
4 weeks0.25 mg weekly
Starting dose.
Titration
4 weeks per step0.5–2.25 mg weekly
Increase incrementally.
Maintenance
Ongoing2.25–4.5 mg weekly
Target based on response.
Cagrilintide Expected Timeline
Week 1–4
Reduced appetite
Month 1–3
Progressive weight loss
Month 3–6
Significant weight reduction
Cagrilintide Side Effects
Nausea
Injection site reactions
Diarrhea
Decreased appetite (therapeutic)
Cagrilintide Research Studies
Cagrilintide plus semaglutide in obesity (REDEFINE 1)
Frias JP, et al. — N Engl J Med (2024)
Phase 3: cagrilintide 2.4 mg + semaglutide 2.4 mg produced ~22.7% weight loss at 68 weeks, exceeding either alone.
PubMed: 38587240Cagrilintide FAQ
What is CagriSema?
Combination of cagrilintide (amylin) and semaglutide (GLP-1), targeting complementary appetite pathways for greater weight loss than either alone.
How is cagrilintide different from pramlintide?
Pramlintide requires 2–3 daily injections. Cagrilintide is acylated for albumin binding, enabling once-weekly dosing.