This data is for laboratory research purposes only. Not for human or animal consumption.
What is Cagrilintide?
Cagrilintide is a long-acting synthetic amylin analogue developed by Novo Nordisk. Amylin is a peptide co-secreted with insulin from pancreatic beta cells that regulates satiety through central amylin receptors. Cagrilintide is the amylin component of the combination drug CagriSema (cagrilintide + semaglutide), which is under FDA regulatory review as of 2026.
Mechanism of Action
Cagrilintide binds to amylin receptor subtypes AMY1R, AMY2R, and AMY3R — heteromeric complexes of the calcitonin receptor (CTR) and receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs 1–3). Receptor activation engages both homeostatic (hypothalamic) and hedonic (mesolimbic) satiety pathways to reduce food intake. Structurally, cagrilintide contains 14E/17R mutations to stabilize the central helix via a salt bridge; 25P/28P/29P mutations (as in rat amylin) to prevent fibril formation; a C-terminal proline for enhanced CTR potency; and an N-terminally linked C20 fatty acid for extended half-life (~159–195 hours), enabling once-weekly dosing. When combined with semaglutide (GLP-1R agonist), the complementary amylin and incretin pathways produce synergistic weight reduction.
Observed Laboratory Results
- Phase 3 REDEFINE 1: CagriSema produced 20.4% mean body weight reduction at 68 weeks versus 3.0% with placebo in adults with obesity without type 2 diabetes.
- ≥20% weight loss: Achieved by 60% of CagriSema-treated participants; ≥30% achieved by 23%.
- Prediabetes reversal: 88% of participants with prediabetes returned to normoglycemia in the CagriSema arm.
- Phase 3 REDEFINE 2 (type 2 diabetes): 15.7% weight loss with significantly improved HbA1c versus comparators.
- Phase 2 dose-escalation: Cagrilintide monotherapy demonstrated dose-dependent weight reduction; combined with semaglutide 2.4 mg, weight loss reached 17.1% versus 9.8% for semaglutide monotherapy at week 20.