Cagrilintide
Cagrilintide is a once-weekly research peptide developed by Novo Nordisk.
We have not published an audit on Cagrilintide. Everything below is reference material, not our own reading of the literature, treat it as a starting point for questions, not as a grade.
How it is thought to work
It is a long-acting analogue of amylin, the hormone the pancreas releases with insulin to signal fullness after eating. [Source: Peptide Dosing Protocols]
Cagrilintide is a weekly injection that mimics amylin, a hormone released by the pancreas after eating, to help people feel full sooner, stay full longer, and slow stomach emptying, which leads to reduced food intake and weight loss.
Reported side effects
The most common side effects of cagrilintide are nausea, injection-site reactions, constipation, and fatigue, which are dose-dependent, tend to peak during the dose escalation phase, and generally ease once a stable dose is reached.
Who should avoid it
People with type 1 diabetes, a history of pancreatitis, severe gastroparesis, pregnancy or breastfeeding, recent major heart events, active cancer, severe kidney or liver problems, or a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2 should not use cagrilintide, and anyone on medications with narrow dosing windows should have clinician oversight due to its effect on stomach emptying.
What gets monitored
GI tolerance, body weight, blood pressure, fasting glucose, and HbA1c if T2D. [Source: Peptide Dosing Protocols]
What sources report
These are figures published elsewhere, reproduced with their source. Peppersite does not recommend an amount for Cagrilintide or for anything else, and nothing below has been checked against the study it came from.
| Amount | Frequency | Route | Reported by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard: 2.4 mg/week · Low: 0.25 mg/week · High: 4.5 mg/week | once weekly16 weeks | Subcutaneous injection | Peptide Dosing ProtocolsWhat it saysHide(secondary reference; provider confirmation required). Half-life: About 159 to 195 hours(~7 to 8 days). Cagrilintide is dosed starting at 0.25 mg once weekly, escalating to 2.4 mg weekly. |
- once weekly16 weeks
- Subcutaneous injection
- Peptide Dosing Protocols
What it saysHide
(secondary reference; provider confirmation required). Half-life: About 159 to 195 hours(~7 to 8 days). Cagrilintide is dosed starting at 0.25 mg once weekly, escalating to 2.4 mg weekly.
- BAC water added per vial; concentration depends on volume chosen.
Common questions
What is the starting dose of cagrilintide?
It depends on the protocol format, commonly starting at 0.25 mg per week.
What is cagrilintide's half-life?
Plasma half-life is about 159-195 hours, or roughly 6.6-8.1 days.
How much weight loss is reported with cagrilintide?
Cagrilintide monotherapy at 2.4 mg produced 11.8% mean body-weight reduction.
How do you reconstitute cagrilintide?
Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water by injecting slowly down the inside wall of the vial.
Open the reconstitution calculator →Is cagrilintide FDA-approved?
No, as of June 2026, cagrilintide is not FDA-approved in any form.
What are the most common cagrilintide side effects?
The most common effects are gastrointestinal and dose-dependent.
How does cagrilintide compare to semaglutide and tirzepatide?
Cagrilintide acts on amylin and calcitonin receptors, while semaglutide acts on GLP-1.
What vial sizes are available for cagrilintide?
Most research suppliers list 5 mg and 10 mg lyophilized vials.
Sources
- 01Garvey WT, Blüher M, Osorto Contreras CK, et al. Coadministered Cagrilintide and Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (REDEFINE 1). New England Journal of Medicine (2025)
- 02Davies MJ, Bajaj HS, Broholm C, et al. Cagrilintide-Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes (REDEFINE 2). New England Journal of Medicine (2025)
- 03Lau DCW, Erichsen L, Francisco AM, et al. Once-weekly cagrilintide for weight management in people with overweight and obesity: a Phase 2 trial. The Lancet (2021)
- 04Enebo LB, Berthelsen KK, Kankam M, et al. Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of cagrilintide with semaglutide for weight management: a Phase 1b trial. The Lancet (2021)
- 05Frias JP, Deenadayalan S, Erichsen L, et al. Efficacy and safety of co-administered once-weekly cagrilintide 2.4 mg with semaglutide 2.4 mg in type 2 diabetes: a Phase 2 trial. The Lancet (2023)
- 06Kruse T, Hansen JL, Dahl K, et al. Development of Cagrilintide, a Long-Acting Amylin Analogue. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2021)
- 07Fletcher MM, Belousoff MJ, Harikumar KG, et al. Structural and dynamic features of cagrilintide binding to calcitonin and amylin receptors. Nature Communications (2025)
- 08Dehestani B, Stratford NR, le Roux CW. Amylin as a Future Obesity Treatment. Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome (2021)
- 09Dutta D, Nagendra L, Harish BG, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Cagrilintide Alone and in Combination with Semaglutide (CagriSema) as Anti-Obesity Medications: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism (2024)
- 10D'Ascanio AM, Mullally JA, Frishman WH. Cagrilintide: A Long-Acting Amylin Analog for the Treatment of Obesity. Cardiology in Review (2024)
- 11Novo Nordisk (press release). CagriSema 2.4 mg / 2.4 mg demonstrated 22.7% mean weight reduction in adults with overweight or obesity in REDEFINE 1, published in NEJM. PR Newswire (2025)
- 12Novo Nordisk (press release). Novo Nordisk files for FDA approval of CagriSema (December 18, 2025). PR Newswire (2025)
- 13ClinicalTrials.gov. REDEFINE 1 (NCT05567796), REDEFINE 2 (NCT05394519), REDEFINE 3 (NCT05669755), REDEFINE 4 (NCT06131437), REDEFINE 11 (NCT07011667), REIMAGINE 2 (NCT06065540). U.S. National Library of Medicine (2026)
The reference sections above are imported from our compound knowledge base, which classes the evidence for Cagrilintide as emerging. That classification is the knowledge base’s, not ours, our own grade appears only where an audit is linked above. Research use only; nothing here is medical advice or a protocol.
5-Amino-1MQ is a small molecule studied for its potential to help the body shrink fat cells and raise NAD+ levels without cutting appetite.
BPC-157 is a synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from a protective protein found in gastric juice. Studied in tissue-repair and regeneration research models.
Peptide bioregulator referenced for connective tissue support.
Peptide bioregulator referenced for nervous system support.
Combination research blend of CJC-1295 (no DAC) and Ipamorelin. Studied as a GHRH/GHRP combination in growth-hormone-axis research.
Peptide bioregulator referenced for pineal support.