Cagrilintide vs Semaglutide — amylin vs GLP-1 research
Cagrilintide and semaglutide target distinct satiety pathways. Cagrilintide is a long-acting amylin analogue — amylin is co-secreted with insulin from pancreatic β-cells and slows gastric emptying, suppresses post-meal glucagon, and produces central satiety. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist with overlapping but distinct satiety mechanisms (slowed gastric emptying via vagal afferents, hypothalamic GLP-1 receptor signalling). The most-cited research literature actually focuses on the combination — 'CagriSema' — which has shown additive weight-loss effects in phase 2/3 trials beyond either agent alone, hypothesised to reflect non-overlapping receptor targets.
Side-by-side
| Cagrilintide 10 mg | semaglutide-10mg | |
|---|---|---|
| Receptor target | Amylin / calcitonin receptors | GLP-1 receptor |
| Originator | Novo Nordisk | Novo Nordisk |
| Half-life | ~7 days | ~7 days |
| Approval status | Phase 3 (REDEFINE programme) | FDA approved |
| Mono-therapy weight loss | ~10% (phase 2) | ~14.9% (STEP-1) |
| CagriSema combined | ~15-20% (phase 2) | Same data |
| CAS number | 1415456-99-3 | 910463-68-2 |
What to know
- ·Cagrilintide is the first long-acting amylin analogue developed for chronic weight-management research; pramlintide (the parent amylin analogue, Symlin) requires multiple daily injections.
- ·The combination ('CagriSema') is now the most active research story — phase 3 REDEFINE trials are reading out 2026.
- ·Mechanisms are non-overlapping, which is the rationale for the combination.
- ·Both are research-use only on this catalogue — neither is sold for human or veterinary administration.
- ·Cagrilintide alone has weaker mono-therapy weight loss than semaglutide alone, but synergy in combination is the headline.
Where the literature diverges
Semaglutide research is dominated by the SUSTAIN, STEP, and SELECT programmes (T2D, obesity, cardiovascular outcomes). Cagrilintide research is younger and centred on the Novo Nordisk-funded combination-therapy literature with semaglutide. The two compounds are positioned as complementary rather than competitive.
FAQ
Why combine them?+
Non-overlapping receptor targets — amylin and GLP-1 produce satiety via different signalling pathways, so the combination produces additive (or supra-additive) effects beyond either alone. The phase 2 CagriSema data showed ~15-20% weight loss vs ~10% for cagrilintide alone and ~14.9% for semaglutide alone in comparable trial designs.
Is cagrilintide approved?+
Not yet. It's in phase 3 (REDEFINE programme). Approval timing depends on phase 3 readout and regulatory submission — Novo Nordisk has been targeting 2026-2027.
Side-effect profile differences?+
Both are predominantly GI side-effects (nausea, transient). Cagrilintide trial reports show somewhat lower GI burden than semaglutide at matched weight-loss endpoints — the amylin pathway produces satiety with less direct gastric-emptying effect.
This is a research-context comparison of compound mechanism and published trial outcomes. Not medical advice. Both compounds are research-use only when sold by Omega Grade — for in vitro laboratory investigation, not human or veterinary administration.
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