GLP-1 & Metabolic Peptides
Cagrilintide
Commonly used for
Weight LossAppetite ControlMetabolic Health
What is it?
Cagrilintide is a long-acting amylin analogue that increases satiety, slows gastric emptying, and reduces food intake — often studied in combination with semaglutide to enhance weight loss.
Mechanism of action: Amylin receptor agonist; Increases satiety; Slows gastric emptying; Reduces food intake
What do people use it for?
Proposed indications: Obesity; Weight maintenance; Metabolic syndrome; Type 2 diabetes (combination therapy)
How is it used? / Dosing
Reported dosing range*: 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, or 4.5 mg once weekly, subcutaneous
A Phase 2 trial evaluated once-weekly subcutaneous doses of 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, and 4.5 mg, with dose escalation (Lau DCW et al. (2021). Cagrilintide for Weight Management in Adults with Overweight and Obesity. The Lancet).
*General range reported in available research or other sources -- not an individualized recommendation. Actual use should be supervised by a qualified provider.
Typical clinical dosing schedule: Dose-escalation schedules are being evaluated in clinical trials; no approved dosing regimen is available.
Administration: Subcutaneous injection — Weekly (investigational protocols)
How does it compare?
Compare with:
How well does it work? / Evidence
~ Moderate evidence
Evidence rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Late-stage investigational) — Large Phase 2 and Phase 3 obesity studies demonstrate substantial weight loss, particularly when combined with semaglutide.
Landmark trials: Phase 2 dose-ranging obesity trial; REDEFINE clinical development program (ongoing)
Safety & side effects
Common side effects: Nausea, Vomiting, Constipation, Decreased appetite
Serious risks: Long-term safety continues to be evaluated. Gastrointestinal adverse effects are the most common reported events.
Drug interactions: No established clinically significant interactions; investigational status limits available data.
Monitoring: Weight, Metabolic parameters, Gastrointestinal tolerability
Legal & regulatory status
Legal status: Investigational. Not FDA-approved and not available by prescription — currently accessible only through enrollment in a clinical trial.
Regulatory status: Not FDA approved (late-stage clinical development)
Who should avoid it?
Contraindications: No FDA-approved labeling. Clinical trials generally excluded individuals with:; History of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2; Severe gastrointestinal disease; Pregnancy
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Not established; avoid use outside clinical trials.
Research & references
Lau DCW, et al. (2021). Cagrilintide for Weight Management in Adults with Overweight and Obesity. The Lancet, 398(10317), 2160–2172. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01751-7