Cagrilintide
Long-acting amylin receptor agonist (amylin analog)
A long-acting amylin analog studied alongside GLP-1 agonists in metabolic-research contexts.
Also referenced as: AM833, NNC0174-0833
Overview
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.
At a glance
What Cagrilintide does
Cagrilintide is a long-acting amylin receptor agonist — mechanistically distinct from the GLP-1/GIP/glucagon incretin agonists it is usually studied alongside. It is a synthetic analog of amylin, the peptide co-secreted with insulin by pancreatic beta cells, engineered for stability and albumin binding to allow once-weekly dosing. Rather than acting on incretin receptors, it engages amylin receptors (calcitonin-receptor cores complexed with RAMP proteins) in the hindbrain, particularly the area postrema. Through these it slows gastric emptying, reduces food intake, and promotes satiety, and amylin signaling is also implicated in restoring leptin sensitivity — a different route to appetite control than the GLP-1 pathway.
Because its mechanism is complementary rather than overlapping, cagrilintide's most important research role is as the partner to semaglutide in the combination CagriSema. As a monotherapy it produced clinically meaningful weight loss in phase 2 obesity studies — on the order of ~10% at the higher weekly doses over roughly 26 weeks — establishing amylin agonism as a standalone weight-loss lever. The interest is that amylin and GLP-1 pathways appear additive, so co-administration produces greater effects than either alone. Cagrilintide is investigational and its evidence base is human phase 2; long-term outcomes are not yet established. Its distinguishing feature within this catalog is that it is the amylin agonist, working on satiety through a receptor system separate from the incretins.
Effects reported in research
- Activation of hindbrain amylin receptors (area postrema) to promote satiety, distinct from the GLP-1 pathway (mechanistic / human clinical).
- Slowed gastric emptying and reduced food intake (human clinical).
- ~10% mean body-weight reduction at higher weekly doses over ~26 weeks as monotherapy in phase 2 obesity studies (human clinical).
- Restoration of leptin sensitivity implicated in its appetite-suppressing action (mechanistic / preclinical).
- Additive weight-loss effect when combined with GLP-1 agonism, forming the basis of CagriSema (human clinical).
- Once-weekly dosing enabled by albumin-binding modification (human pharmacokinetic).
- Establishes amylin agonism as a standalone weight-loss mechanism independent of incretins (human phase 2).
- Long-term efficacy and safety not yet established — investigational, phase 2/3 (investigational).
Effects listed reflect findings reported in the research literature — many in animal or in-vitro models. Listing an effect is not a claim of efficacy or a therapeutic indication in humans.
Mechanism of action
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.
Mechanistic description reflects published research-literature understanding. Much peptide research is preclinical (in-vitro or animal-model); mechanism in humans may differ and is not established for many compounds.
What it's studied for
Research contexts in which Cagrilintide appears in the literature. Listing a research area is not a claim of efficacy or a therapeutic indication.
Key characteristics
- Investigational long-acting amylin analog rather than an incretin (GLP-1) agonist
- Targets amylin/calcitonin receptors, a distinct pathway from GLP-1 and GIP
- Engineered for once-weekly subcutaneous dosing via acylation
- Studied both as a standalone agent and as the amylin component of the cagrisema combination with semaglutide
- Represents a complementary satiety mechanism intended to pair with incretin-based agents
Reported research dosing reference only
Educational reference, not dosing guidance. The figures below summarize amounts reported in published research and research-community protocols, provided for educational and research context only. They are not medical advice, not a recommendation, and not instructions for human use. Cagrilintide is a research compound.
In the clinical literature cagrilintide is administered once weekly with a multi-week escalation. These are reference figures describing published research/protocols, not dosing guidance for humans.
- Phase 2 once-weekly doses studied: 0.3 mg, 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 2.4 mg, 4.5 mg
- In the CagriSema combination it is paired at 2.4 mg once weekly
Half-life ~7-8 days makes it a natural weekly partner for semaglutide (CagriSema). Reference figures for research context only.
How it compares
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.
Commonly studied alongside
Compounds frequently researched together with Cagrilintide in the literature. Cross-referenced for research context — not a usage or combination recommendation.
Compare and calculate
Side-by-side pages for the pairings the literature already documents for Cagrilintide, plus the unit-conversion reference for a reconstituted vial. Factual comparisons of documented characteristics — not a recommendation to combine or use any compound.
Cagrilintide reconstitution calculator → Concentration, volume per measured amount and syringe units for a stated vial mass and diluent volume. A unit-conversion reference, not a dosing recommendation.
Handling & Stability
Lyophilized peptides are stored cold, protected from light, and reconstituted only at the time of intended in-vitro work.
- Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
- Verify supplier lot and Certificate of Analysis
- Follow institutional lab-safety protocols
Analytical & COA Concepts
Reputable research suppliers publish a third-party Certificate of Analysis per batch. Key analytical concepts referenced in COAs include:
Category Context
Cagrilintide sits in the GLP-1 Family area of the PeptiDex library.
- Entry type: Research compound reference
- GLP-1 Family category hub →
- Browse the full library →
- Glossary of terms →
Where researchers source Cagrilintide
For researchers studying Cagrilintide, third-party suppliers such as Practically Natty Peptides offer research-grade material, third-party tests every batch and provides Certificates of Analysis on request, and ship from the US.
PeptiDex does not maintain a direct supplier listing for this compound. The link above goes to a third-party research-supplier directory.
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.
What is cagrilintide's half-life and dosing frequency?
Cagrilintide has a reported half-life of roughly 7-8 days (about 160-195 hours), thanks to lipid-modification-based half-life extension, which supports once-weekly administration in the literature. Its weekly kinetics make it a convenient partner for the weekly GLP-1 agonist semaglutide. Steady state is reached over several weeks of weekly dosing.
How is cagrilintide dose-escalated in the research literature?
A phase 2 program studied once-weekly doses of 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, and 4.5 mg, using a dose-escalation period of up to about 6 weeks. In the reported data, effects on body weight were dose-dependent across that range. These are reference figures for research context only, not human dosing guidance.
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 documentation should be expected for research-grade cagrilintide?
A third-party COA with HPLC purity (commonly greater than or equal to 98%) and mass-spec identity confirmation is the standard reference. Lyophilized cagrilintide is stored cold and reconstituted with bacteriostatic water for research handling, avoiding light exposure and freeze-thaw cycles.
Answers are educational summaries of research-literature context and do not constitute medical advice. See the Research Library, COA guide, and Storage & Handling guide for more.
References
Primary literature indexed in PubMed for Cagrilintide. Listing a study records that it exists and is indexed — it is not a claim of efficacy, a therapeutic indication, or an endorsement of its conclusions. Much of this literature is preclinical (in-vitro or animal-model).
- Once-weekly cagrilintide for weight management in people with overweight and obesity: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled and active-controlled, dose-finding phase 2 trial
- Development of Cagrilintide, a Long-Acting Amylin Analogue
Each reference was checked against its PubMed record on 2026-07-28: the PMID resolves and the title, journal and year match. Where no indexed literature exists for a compound, PeptiDex says so rather than substituting a citation about a different molecule. See the editorial policy.