Cagrilintide vs CagriSema
A neutral, side-by-side comparison of two glp-1 & metabolic peptides — their mechanisms, dosing ranges, administration routes, side effects, and research evidence. For research and educational purposes only.
Cagrilintide
Long-acting amylin/CGRP receptor co-agonist developed by Novo Nordisk. Reduces food intake and body weight via central satiety pathways distinct from the GLP-1 pathway. In the CagriSema combination trial with semaglutide, the combination achieved up to ~25% weight reduction — substantially greater than either agent alone.
Full profileCagriSema
CagriSema is Novo Nordisk's investigational fixed combination of cagrilintide (a long-acting amylin analog) and semaglutide (a GLP-1 receptor agonist). By pairing two complementary appetite pathways, it produced roughly 20–23% weight loss in trials. It was filed with the FDA in December 2025 but is not yet approved — and notably missed non-inferiority against tirzepatide in a head-to-head study.
Full profile| Cagrilintide | CagriSema | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | GLP-1 & Metabolic | GLP-1 & Metabolic |
| Also known as | AM833, amylin analogue, CagriSema partner | Cagrilintide + Semaglutide, AM833 + semaglutide, amylin/GLP-1 combination |
| Evidence | Investigational (in trials) | Investigational (in trials) |
| Dosing range | 0.3mg–2.4mg mg, once weekly subcutaneous | 0.25mg–2.4mg mg, once weekly subcutaneous (each component 2.4mg at target) |
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection | Subcutaneous injection (weekly) |
| Key side effects | Nausea, Vomiting, Injection site reactions, Decreased appetite | Nausea (most common, dose-dependent), Vomiting, Diarrhea or constipation, Decreased appetite |
| Cited sources | 2 references | 2 references |
Key differences
- Administration: Cagrilintide — Subcutaneous injection; CagriSema — Subcutaneous injection (weekly).
- Frequency: Cagrilintide is typically once weekly subcutaneous; CagriSema is once weekly subcutaneous (each component 2.4mg at target).
How each works
Cagrilintide
Cagrilintide activates amylin receptors (RAMP/CTR complexes) in the area postrema and hypothalamus, reducing food intake and slowing gastric emptying through mechanisms independent of GLP-1 signaling. This non-overlapping pathway allows combination with semaglutide without compounding GI side effects. Phase 2 CagriSema data showed 15–25% weight loss at 32 weeks, supporting the complementary mechanism hypothesis.
CagriSema
CagriSema combines amylin-receptor agonism (cagrilintide — satiety and gastric emptying via the area postrema/hypothalamus) with GLP-1 agonism (semaglutide), two non-overlapping appetite mechanisms. The REDEFINE 1 and 2 trials supported a December 2025 FDA filing for weight management. However, the open-label REDEFINE-4 head-to-head trial showed 23.0% weight loss vs 25.5% for tirzepatide 15 mg, missing its primary non-inferiority endpoint. An FDA decision is expected in late 2026.
This comparison aggregates public research and structured profile data for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and does not recommend either compound for human use. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before considering any peptide.