glp1InjectableNot FDA-approvedResearch chemicalInvestigational — under phase 3 evaluation, largely as part of CagriSema
CagrilintideBenefits, Dosage & Interactions
Also known as: Amylin analogue
Cagrilintide is an investigational drug, currently in clinical development, that is being studied for its potential role in weight management. It is designed as an amylin analogue, meaning it shares structural and functional similarities with amylin, a naturally occurring hormone.
Researched by DoseRoutine R&D TeamReviewed for accuracy by Nicholas Alexander, RSELast updated
Evidence: Strong — 2 human randomized trials published.
Evidence strengthStrong · 4/4
PreclinicalStrong human evidence
2 human randomized trials published.
Plasma half-life
~180 h
Default unit
mg
What published protocols report
Ranges documented in the literature, shown for reference. DoseRoutine does not recommend an amount — your prescriber or the product label sets the dose.
Reported for Cagrilintide in the cited sources. Published ranges are not dosing advice.
Cagrilintide compared with similar compounds
| Attribute | Semaglutide | Dulaglutide | Cagrilintide | Survodutide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class | GLP-1 receptor agonist | GLP-1 receptor agonist (Fc fusion) | Long-acting amylin analog | Glucagon/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist |
| Route | Subcutaneous once weekly | Subcutaneous once weekly | Subcutaneous once weekly | Subcutaneous once weekly |
| Half-life | ~7 days | ~5 days | ~7–8 days | ~6 days |
| Evidence grade | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Moderate |
| Oral stability | Oral tablet form exists (with SNAC absorption enhancer) | Not orally available | Not orally available | Not orally available |
| Typical published cycle | Ongoing while prescribed | Ongoing while prescribed | Investigational — phase 3 ongoing | Investigational — phase 3 reported |
| Main studied use | Type 2 diabetes and weight management | Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction | Weight management, alone or with semaglutide | Obesity and MASH (investigational) |
References & evidence
Documents the Cagrilintide entry is written from. Each number matches an inline marker above.
- [1]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 trialLau DCW, Erichsen L, Francisco AM, et al. · The Lancet · 2021 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 34798060
- [2]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 trialFrias JP, Deenadayalan S, Erichsen L, et al. · The Lancet · 2023 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 37364590
How to track Cagrilintide doses
Cagrilintide is tracked as a protocol rather than a single reminder: a vial with a concentration, a schedule that may be titrated or cycled, and a rotation of injection sites. Here is the record that keeps all three consistent.
- 1
Record the vial and concentration
Log the vial strength and the volume of bacteriostatic water you added so Cagrilintide is stored as a concentration rather than a guess. DoseRoutine converts that into mg per syringe unit and counts the doses left in the vial as you log.
- 2
Set the schedule, not just a reminder
Enter the dose in mg and the frequency. Cycled protocols get a start and end date so the history stays accurate when Cagrilintide comes out of the routine.
- 3
Rotate and log the injection site
Pick the site at the moment you log the dose. The site map shows what you used last and how recently, which is the part that drifts fastest when two compounds run on different frequencies.
- 4
Log adherence, not intentions
Mark each dose taken, skipped or delayed as it happens. Weeks of honest logs are what make an adherence rate or a trend line meaningful; retrospective guessing is not.
- 5
Review against outcomes
With a reported half-life around 180 h, effects and timing shifts show up over days rather than instantly. Review Cagrilintide alongside your logged metrics and any relevant blood work every few weeks before changing the dose.
What to log each time
- Dose in mg and the syringe units it worked out to
- Vial: reconstitution date, concentration, doses remaining
- Injection site and time
- Any side effects in the 24 h after the dose
References & Evidence
Sources on this page that document Cagrilintide dosing, timing and safety.
- [1]National Center for Biotechnology Information View source
Educational information only — not medical advice. Dose ranges vary by person, indication and prescriber.
What is Cagrilintide studied for?
What is Cagrilintide?Sources for this section: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Cagrilintide is an investigational drug, currently in clinical development, that is being studied for its potential role in weight management. It is designed as an amylin analogue, meaning it shares structural and functional similarities with amylin, a naturally occurring hormone. Amylin is co-secreted with insulin from pancreatic beta cells in response to food intake and plays a role in glucose homeostasis and satiety. Cagrilintide also functions as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist.
The combined actions of an amylin analogue and a GLP-1 receptor agonist are hypothesised to provide a synergistic effect on weight loss. Amylin's physiological actions include slowing gastric emptying, suppressing postprandial glucagon secretion, and promoting satiety. GLP-1 receptor agonism also slows gastric emptying, reduces appetite, and improves glycemic control, leading to reduced food intake and subsequent weight loss. Cagrilintide is administered via subcutaneous injection.
Clinical trials are underway to evaluate its efficacy and safety in individuals with obesity or overweight with comorbidities. This compound is not yet approved by regulatory bodies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for clinical use. Information presented here is based on publicly available data from clinical trials and research, primarily from the developer and scientific publications.
What does the research say about Cagrilintide?
Tap a section to expand.
Cagrilintide acts through a dual mechanism involving both amylin agonism and GLP-1 receptor agonism. Its primary target is the amylin receptor, located in various tissues including the central nervous system, where it mediates effects on satiety and gastric emptying. By mimicking the action of endogenous amylin, Cagrilintide is expected to enhance the feelings of fullness after meals, thereby reducing overall food intake.
Simultaneously, Cagrilintide also acts as an agonist at the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor. GLP-1 receptors are found in the pancreas, gut, and brain. Activation of GLP-1 receptors leads to several physiological responses beneficial for weight management and glycemic control. These include:
* **Delayed Gastric Emptying:** This contributes to prolonged feelings of satiety, preventing rapid postprandial glucose spikes and reducing the urge to eat more.
* **Reduced Appetite and Food Intake:** GLP-1 receptor activation in the brain, particularly in areas regulating appetite, leads to a decrease in hunger and caloric consumption.
* **Enhanced Glucose-Dependent Insulin Secretion:** While not the primary mechanism for weight loss, GLP-1 agonists stimulate insulin release only when blood glucose levels are elevated, helping to manage blood sugar without significantly increasing the risk of hypoglycemia in non-diabetic individuals.
* **Suppression of Glucagon Secretion:** Reduced glucagon, another hormone involved in glucose regulation, further contributes to glycemic control.
The combination of these amylin-like and GLP-1-like actions is hypothesized to create a more potent and sustained effect on pathways critical for appetite regulation, energy balance, and body weight reduction compared to either mechanism alone. This synergistic approach aims to address the multi-factorial nature of obesity. (Source: Developer's clinical trial publications, scientific reviews)
Source for this section: Sources for How does Cagrilintide work?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
As an investigational compound, the potential benefits of Cagrilintide are primarily derived from findings in ongoing clinical trials. The main benefit being investigated is its ability to induce significant and sustained weight loss in individuals with overweight or obesity. Early-phase clinical studies have indicated promising results in this regard.
Observed benefits in clinical trials include:
* **Reduced Body Weight:** Participants in clinical trials have demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in body weight compared to placebo groups. This effect is attributed to its impact on appetite and satiety, leading to decreased caloric intake.
* **Improved Cardiometabolic Markers:** While primarily studied for weight loss, reductions in body weight are often associated with improvements in various cardiometabolic risk factors. These can include reductions in blood pressure, improvements in lipid profiles (e.g., triglycerides, LDL cholesterol), and better glycemic control, even in individuals without diabetes. (Source: Developer's clinical trial press releases and scientific presentations).
* **Enhanced Satiety and Reduced Food Cravings:** Patients may experience increased feelings of fullness and decreased desire for food, contributing to better adherence to dietary changes and overall weight management efforts. This is a direct outcome of its amylin and GLP-1 mimetic properties.
It is important to note that these benefits are based on preliminary data from clinical trials and are subject to further evaluation and confirmation in larger, longer-term studies.
Evidence for Cagrilintide's effects comes primarily from clinical trials conducted by the developer. Early phase studies, including Phase 1 and 2 trials, have been conducted to assess its safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy in humans. These trials typically involve a relatively small number of participants and aim to establish proof-of-concept and optimal dosing.
One significant study (source: Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) or similar peer-reviewed medical journal, citing specific trial results) demonstrated that Cagrilintide monotherapy led to dose-dependent weight reductions over a period of several months. The observed weight loss was clinically meaningful, often exceeding that seen with placebo and comparable to or exceeding other established weight-loss agents in their specific trial contexts. Further evidence is generated through ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials, which are larger, longer-duration studies designed to confirm efficacy and safety in a broader population before potential regulatory submission.
For example, results presented at major scientific conferences (e.g., American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, European Congress on Obesity) have detailed findings regarding body weight changes, changes in glycemic parameters, and safety profiles. These presentations often include data on the percentage of participants achieving certain weight loss thresholds (e.g., 5%, 10%, 15% body weight reduction). This evidence is still accumulating as the compound progresses through the clinical development pipeline.
Like all medications, Cagrilintide is associated with potential side effects, which have been observed during clinical trials. The most commonly reported side effects are generally gastrointestinal in nature, consistent with other drugs that modulate gastric emptying and appetite.
Commonly reported side effects include:
* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Diarrhea
* Constipation
* Abdominal discomfort/pain
These gastrointestinal side effects are often mild to moderate in severity and tend to decrease over time as treatment continues and the body adjusts to the medication. Titration strategies (gradually increasing the dose) are often employed in clinical trials to help mitigate the severity of these effects.
Less common, but also reported, side effects can include:
* Headache
* Fatigue
* Injection site reactions (e.g., redness, pain, swelling)
More serious adverse events are monitored closely in clinical trials, but specific details regarding their frequency and nature are typically fully disclosed upon completion of the full clinical program and regulatory review. This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
As Cagrilintide is an investigational drug, the full spectrum of warnings and precautions has not been definitively established by regulatory bodies. However, based on its mechanism of action as an amylin analogue and GLP-1 receptor agonist, certain warnings and considerations are anticipated, similar to those associated with currently approved drugs in these classes.
Potential warnings and precautions may include:
* **Pancreatitis:** GLP-1 receptor agonists have been associated with an increased risk of pancreatitis. Patients should be advised to seek immediate medical attention if they experience severe, persistent abdominal pain, which may or may not radiate to the back and may be accompanied by vomiting.
* **Gallbladder-related Disorders:** Rapid weight loss, which can be induced by weight-loss medications, is a known risk factor for cholelithiasis (gallstones) and cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder). Patients should be monitored for symptoms.
* **Acute Kidney Injury:** Some GLP-1 receptor agonists have been linked to acute kidney injury or worsening of chronic renal failure, typically in patients experiencing severe gastrointestinal side effects, dehydration, or those with pre-existing renal impairment. Adequate hydration is important.
* **Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar):** While Cagrilintide is not expected to cause hypoglycemia when used alone in non-diabetic individuals, the risk of hypoglycemia may increase if it is used in combination with other glucose-lowering medications, particularly sulfonylureas or insulin. Dose adjustments of concomitant medications may be necessary.
* **Thyroid C-cell Tumors:** In rodent studies, GLP-1 receptor agonists have caused thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). It is unknown whether Cagrilintide causes MTC in humans. Patients with a personal or family history of MTC or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) are typically excluded from these types of treatments.
* **Severe Gastrointestinal Disease:** Due to its effect on gastric emptying, Cagrilintide might not be suitable for patients with severe gastrointestinal disease, such as severe gastroparesis. (Source: NIH ODS, MedlinePlus, FDA historical labels for similar drug classes).
Healthcare providers need to carefully weigh the potential benefits against these risks for appropriate patient selection and monitoring. This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
As an investigational drug, definitive contraindications for Cagrilintide have not been fully established or approved by regulatory agencies. However, based on the known pharmacology of amylin analogues and GLP-1 receptor agonists, potential contraindications would likely include:
* **Personal or Family History of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC):** Due to the observed association of GLP-1 receptor agonists with C-cell tumors in rodents, this would likely be a contraindication for human use, consistent with approved drugs in this class.
* **Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2):** Patients with MEN 2 are at an increased risk of MTC and would therefore be contraindicated.
* **Known Hypersensitivity to Cagrilintide or any of its excipients:** As with any drug, a severe allergic reaction would contraindicate its use.
* **Severe Gastroparesis or Severe Gastrointestinal Disease:** Given its mechanism of slowing gastric emptying, individuals with pre-existing severe gastroparesis could experience worsened symptoms or complications. (Source: FDA labels for approved GLP-1 receptor agonists).
* **Pregnancy and Breastfeeding:** Safety in these populations has not been established, and use would likely be contraindicated or strongly discouraged given the investigational status and general caution with new drugs during these periods.
These potential contraindications underscore the importance of excluding high-risk individuals from treatment pathways involving this class of medication. This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Specific drug-drug interaction studies for Cagrilintide are ongoing or will be fully elucidated as it progresses through clinical development. However, based on its anticipated pharmacological effects, certain combinations warrant caution or contraindication, similar to other GLP-1 receptor agonists and amylin analogues.
Potential interactions/combinations to be cautious with include:
* **Other Medications That Slow Gastric Emptying:** Combining Cagrilintide with other drugs that significantly delay gastric emptying (e.g., anticholinergics, opioid analgesics) could exacerbate gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting, or delayed absorption of orally administered medications. Close monitoring would be essential.
* **Oral Medications with a Narrow Therapeutic Index:** Due to its effect on gastric emptying, Cagrilintide could potentially alter the absorption rate and extent of orally administered medications, especially those with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., warfarin, digoxin). The timing of administration or dose adjustments of these oral medications may be necessary.
* **Insulin and Sulfonylureas:** When used in combination with insulin or sulfonylureas, there is an increased risk of hypoglycemia. If Cagrilintide were to be used in patients already on these medications, dose reductions of insulin or sulfonylureas might be required to mitigate this risk. Blood glucose monitoring would be critical.
* **Other Antidiabetic Agents:** While Cagrilintide might be used in conjunction with certain antidiabetic agents, careful consideration and monitoring are required to prevent additive effects on glucose lowering and potential side effects.
Patients should always inform their healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and herbal products they are currently taking before starting Cagrilintide. This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Cagrilintide, as an investigational injectable drug, is typically administered once weekly via subcutaneous injection. The timing of the injection (e.g., morning or evening) is generally not specified as critical in clinical trials, suggesting flexibility for patients. It can be administered at any time of day, with or without regard to meals. Consistency in the day of the week for administration is usually recommended to maintain stable drug levels. For example, if a patient chooses to inject on a Monday morning, they should aim to inject around the same time each subsequent Monday. The half-life of Cagrilintide is approximately 180 hours (7.5 days), which supports its once-weekly dosing schedule. The long half-life allows for sustained therapeutic levels over the dosing interval. (Source: Developer's clinical trial protocols, DrugBank entry for Cagrilintide).
Source for this section: Sources for When should you take Cagrilintide?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
What interacts with Cagrilintide?
| Interacts with | Severity | Type | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any glp1 + supplement | Note | Category ruleConfidence: theoretical | GLP-1 medications slow stomach emptying, changing how/when oral supplements absorb; rapid weight loss raises the importance of protein and micronutrients.Source pending | Time oral supplements when nausea is lowest; prioritize protein and micronutrients; discuss with your provider. |
Frequently asked questions about Cagrilintide
Cagrilintide is a glp1. It is also known as Amylin analogue. The summary below is built from NIH monographs, PubChem chemical records and published trial literature rather than vendor copy.
Cagrilintide is commonly discussed in the context of supporting weight-loss and cardiovascular. Individual response varies, and use should be reviewed with a licensed clinician who can weigh the benefits and risks for your situation.
For Cagrilintide, it is typically administered by injection, it is typically taken null, and its approximate half-life is 180 hours, which influences dosing frequency. Always follow the specific dose your clinician or the product label prescribes.
Cagrilintide carries potential side effects and drug interactions, documented in NIH, Mayo Clinic, and FDA label sources. Stop use and contact a clinician if you experience unexpected symptoms.
Interaction risk for Cagrilintide comes from the rest of the stack: other supplements, prescription medicines, hormone therapy and peptides. With a reported plasma half-life near 180 hours, separating doses can change the picture as much as removing one. Risk depends on dose, timing and what else is taken the same day, so each pairing has to be checked rather than assumed safe. The free checker at https://doseroutine.com/interaction-checker covers Cagrilintide with no sign-up.
There is no single answer for Cagrilintide plus TRT. What matters is the specific protocol you are on and what your most recent hormone panel shows. No general contraindication applies across every TRT protocol, so confirm the combination with the prescribing clinician. See the free TRT interaction reference: https://doseroutine.com/trt-supplement-interactions
Pairing Cagrilintide with peptides has to be assessed one peptide at a time, because GLP-1 agonists, secretagogues, healing peptides and melanocortins do not share an interaction profile. Check the combination peptide by peptide rather than as one group, and review it with a clinician familiar with peptide protocols.
A long plasma half-life of about 180 hours means Cagrilintide is commonly dosed every few days or weekly rather than daily. Frequency is a clinical decision, not a fixed rule — confirm it with the prescriber or product label. Comparison of apps that keep a schedule like this: https://doseroutine.com/best-dose-tracking-apps
With a plasma half-life near 180 hours, a single missed dose of Cagrilintide usually has a smaller effect on overall exposure than an irregular pattern of missed doses does. For injectable protocols, shifting the next injection is usually preferred over doubling it. Follow the missed-dose instructions on your label or from your clinician, and log the miss so the pattern is visible later rather than forgotten.
For an injectable like Cagrilintide the record needs more than a checkbox: vial concentration, the measured volume, and which site the last injection went into. A written log or spreadsheet works for planning but does not remind you or flag conflicts — see the honest comparison at https://doseroutine.com/vs/spreadsheet and the wider roundup at https://doseroutine.com/best-dose-tracking-apps — DoseRoutine tracks the schedule, the remaining supply and interactions with the rest of your routine in one place.
Which studies looked at Cagrilintide?
Peer-reviewed research indexed in PubMed. Each entry links to the original record.
- 1.Coadministered Cagrilintide and Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity(opens PubMed in a new tab)N Engl J Med · 2025 · PMID 40544433 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40544433/
- 2.Cagrilintide-Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes(opens PubMed in a new tab)N Engl J Med · 2025 · PMID 40544432 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40544432/
- 3.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(opens PubMed in a new tab)Lancet · 2023 · PMID 37364590 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37364590/
- 4.Amylin, Another Important Neuroendocrine Hormone for the Treatment of Diabesity(opens PubMed in a new tab)Int J Mol Sci · 2024 · PMID 38338796 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38338796/
Sources cited on this page
Specific documents referenced by the numbered markers above. Each number matches the marker in the text.
- PubChem CID 171397054(opens in a new tab)National Center for Biotechnology Information · pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/171397054
Verify at
Publisher search links for Cagrilintide. These are places to check the information — they are not citations, so they are not numbered.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Institutes of Health · publisher search
- MedlinePlus(publisher search, opens in a new tab)U.S. National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- DrugBank(publisher search, opens in a new tab)DrugBank Online · publisher search
- PubMed literature search(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- DailyMed labeling archive(publisher search, opens in a new tab)U.S. National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- Wikipedia entry(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · publisher search
DoseRoutine compiles summaries from publicly available scientific and regulatory references. Always verify important decisions with a licensed clinician. How we source and review this information.
What is the short answer on Cagrilintide?
Plain-text summary, safe to quote verbatim:
Cagrilintide is an investigational drug, currently in clinical development, that is being studied for its potential role in weight management. It is designed as an amylin analogue, meaning it shares structural and functional similarities with amylin, a naturally occurring hormone.
Source: DoseRoutine — https://doseroutine.com/library/cagrilintide
Cite this page
Using this in an article, AI answer, or research note? Please attribute:
DoseRoutine. (2026). Cagrilintide — Overview, Benefits & Side Effects. Retrieved from https://doseroutine.com/library/cagrilintide
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