Description
Cagrilintide (often shortened to “Cagri”) is an investigational, once-weekly peptide developed by Novo Nordisk. It is a long-acting amylin analogue, meaning it mimics the natural hormone amylin, which is released alongside insulin after eating. It is being studied for the treatment of obesity and overweight, both on its own and in combination with semaglutide as CagriSema.
How does Cagrilintide work?
Unlike GLP-1 medications, Cagrilintide works through the amylin receptor. It helps regulate appetite and food intake by:
- 🍽️ Increasing feelings of fullness (satiety)
- 🕒 Slowing stomach emptying
- 🍔 Reducing appetite and calorie intake
- 🩸 Helping regulate glucagon secretion after meals
- ⚖️ Supporting long-term weight management through reduced food consumption
Potential Benefits
Current clinical research suggests Cagrilintide may:
- ✔️ Promote significant weight loss
- ✔️ Reduce hunger and food cravings
- ✔️ Increase fullness after meals
- ✔️ Improve adherence to calorie-restricted diets
- ✔️ Improve metabolic health markers associated with obesity
- ✔️ Enhance weight loss when combined with semaglutide (CagriSema)
Clinical Research
Studies have shown promising results:
- In a Phase 2 trial, once-weekly Cagrilintide produced clinically meaningful weight loss compared with placebo.
- In later studies, the combination of Cagrilintide + Semaglutide (CagriSema) resulted in greater average weight loss than either medication alone, supporting the idea that targeting both the amylin and GLP-1 pathways may have complementary effects.
Common Side Effects
The most commonly reported side effects in clinical trials include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Decreased appetite
- Abdominal discomfort
These side effects are generally similar to those seen with other appetite-regulating medications and are often most noticeable during dose escalation.
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