Cagrilintide vs Cagrisema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide)
Cagrilintide (Long-acting amylin receptor agonist (amylin analog)) and Cagrisema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide) (Fixed-combination amylin analog plus GLP-1 receptor agonist) are documented as co-studied in the PeptiDex library. This page puts the two entries side by side on class, molecular weight, half-life, origin, mechanism and studied research areas — every value taken from the entry it belongs to.
Why these two are co-studied
Cross-referenced for research context — not a usage or combination recommendation.
At a glance
| Attribute | Cagrilintide | Cagrisema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide) |
|---|---|---|
| Compound class | Long-acting amylin receptor agonist (amylin analog) | Fixed-combination amylin analog plus GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Research category | GLP-1 Family | GLP-1 Family |
| Length (amino acids) | Not documented | Not documented |
| Molecular weight | ~3731 g/mol | Not documented |
| Half-life | ~7 days | ~7 days (both components) |
| Origin | An investigational long-acting amylin analog developed by Novo Nordisk, studied both alone and in combination with semaglutide. It has been evaluated in clinical trials in the 2020s. | An investigational fixed-dose combination developed by Novo Nordisk that co-formulates the amylin analog cagrilintide with the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide. It has been evaluated in clinical trials in the 2020s. |
“Not documented” means the PeptiDex entry records no value for that field. Nothing on this page is estimated, and no figure is carried over from one compound to the other.
How Cagrilintide works
Cagrilintide is a modified, long-acting analog of the pancreatic hormone amylin that acts as an agonist at amylin and calcitonin receptors. Amylin signaling promotes satiety, slows gastric emptying, and reduces food intake through central and peripheral pathways distinct from the incretin (GLP-1) system. Structural modifications and acylation extend its half-life to support once-weekly administration.
How Cagrisema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide) works
CagriSema combines two complementary mechanisms in a single formulation: cagrilintide, a long-acting amylin analog acting on amylin/calcitonin receptors, and semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. The amylin component promotes satiety and slows gastric emptying, while the GLP-1 component enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, and reduces appetite. The two are intended to act on distinct but complementary appetite- and glucose-regulating pathways.
Mechanistic descriptions reflect published research-literature understanding and are quoted from each compound's own entry. Much peptide research is preclinical (in-vitro or animal-model); mechanism in humans may differ and is not established for many compounds.
Where each one appears in the literature
The research contexts each entry documents. Listing a research area is not a claim of efficacy or a therapeutic indication, and the two lists are not scored against each other.
Described in identical terms for both
Cagrilintide
Cagrisema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide)
What sets each apart
Cagrilintide
Cagrilintide is an amylin analog, not a GLP-1 or GIP agonist, so it acts through a different appetite-regulating pathway and is often studied in combination with incretin agents.
Cagrisema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide)
CagriSema is distinguished by being a fixed combination of an amylin analog and a GLP-1 agonist, rather than a single-molecule mono-, dual-, or triple-agonist.
Frequently asked questions
What is cagrilintide and what receptor class does it act on?
Cagrilintide (AM833) is a long-acting amylin analogue — it acts as an agonist at amylin and calcitonin receptors rather than the GLP-1 receptor. In research it is studied for satiety signaling, slowed gastric emptying, and body-weight effects, and it is the amylin half of the CagriSema combination. Its mechanism is complementary to, not overlapping with, GLP-1 agonists.
How does cagrilintide differ from a GLP-1 agonist like semaglutide?
Cagrilintide works through the amylin/calcitonin receptor system, whereas semaglutide works through the GLP-1 receptor. Because the pathways are distinct, the two are studied together for potentially additive effects — the basis of the CagriSema combination. Cagrilintide alone is less extensively characterized than semaglutide.
Is cagrilintide an approved drug?
On its own cagrilintide is investigational and not independently approved; it is primarily advanced as part of the fixed-dose CagriSema combination. It should be handled strictly as a research chemical, not for human use.
What is CagriSema and what two compounds is it made of?
CagriSema is a fixed-dose combination of the amylin analogue cagrilintide and the GLP-1 agonist semaglutide, co-formulated for once-weekly administration. It pairs two distinct mechanisms — amylin/calcitonin-receptor signaling plus GLP-1-receptor signaling — in a single injection. It is studied in obesity and metabolic models where the combination showed larger weight effects than either component alone.
What is the ratio of cagrilintide to semaglutide in CagriSema?
The lead combination is a 1:1 ratio, CagriSema 2.4 mg / 2.4 mg — 2.4 mg of cagrilintide plus 2.4 mg of semaglutide once weekly. Lower matched steps are used during escalation. In the REDEFINE 1 data the 2.4/2.4 mg combination produced greater mean weight reduction than either cagrilintide 2.4 mg or semaglutide 2.4 mg alone.
Why are the two components a good pharmacokinetic match?
Both cagrilintide (~7-8 day half-life) and semaglutide (~7 day half-life) are engineered for once-weekly dosing, so they can be co-administered on the same weekly schedule. Their similar kinetics are part of why the fixed-dose combination is practical. Study designs use a matched multi-week escalation for both components together.
Answers are the ones published on each compound's own PeptiDex entry. They are educational summaries of research-literature context and are not medical advice.