Cagrilintide is a lab-made copy of amylin, a hormone the pancreas makes after meals, and its cagrilintide dosage in research comes from published trials where it was given once a week. This guide explains what cagrilintide is, how it works, what the studies found on weight, how the trial doses and lab mixing steps work, and how it compares with other weight-loss peptides. It describes research only and is not advice for any person. For a deeper look at the biology, see the cagrilintide mechanism guide.
What Is Cagrilintide Peptide and Why Are People Talking About It?
A peptide is a short chain of amino acids, the small building blocks of proteins. Cagrilintide is a peptide made in a lab to copy amylin. Natural amylin is a hormone released by the pancreas, and it acts as a fullness signal, according to a 2021 trial report in The Lancet.
Natural amylin is hard to use as a medicine. A 2021 paper in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry explains that it tends to clump into hard fibers, and that an earlier copy called pramlintide needs three injections a day because it is short-lived. Cagrilintide was built to fix both problems. The same paper describes it as a stable, long-acting version of amylin that carries a fatty-acid attachment, which is called lipidation.
People are talking about it for three reasons. First, it is given once a week in trials. Second, it works through a different hormone pathway than the gut-hormone weight-loss drugs, so researchers tested it alone and together with semaglutide. Third, the results were large. In a 2025 phase 3 trial, adults who got the combination lost an average of 20.4% of body weight over 68 weeks, against 3.0% on placebo. Cagrilintide is described as still under development in a 2026 paper in Clinical Pharmacokinetics.
How Cagrilintide Works
Think of amylin as a “you have had enough” message that the body sends after eating. Cagrilintide copies that message and lasts much longer than the natural hormone.
- Fullness signal. The 2021 Lancet trial report says natural amylin induces satiety, which means a feeling of fullness. Cagrilintide is a long-acting amylin analogue, which simply means a close copy.
- Two receptors. A receptor is a docking spot on a cell that a hormone fits into. A 2022 study in Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy describes cagrilintide as acting on both the amylin receptor and a related one called the calcitonin receptor.
- Long life in the body. In a 2021 phase 1b trial, cagrilintide had a half life of 159 to 195 hours, which is about 6.6 to 8.1 days. A half life is the time it takes for the amount in the body to fall by half. This is why trials give it once a week.
- A different path from gut-hormone drugs. The 2021 trial reports describe semaglutide as a copy of GLP-1, a gut hormone. Because the two work on different pathways, trials paired them to see if the effects add up.
See also: Why Appetite Is a Bigger Research Puzzle Than Anyone Expected
Reported Findings in Trials
These are the things trials measured. They are research findings and not promises of any result.
- Weight change. Average weight fell in every trial listed in the next section.
- Blood sugar. In a 2023 trial in adults with type 2 diabetes, HbA1c, a blood marker of average sugar over about three months, fell 0.9 percentage points with cagrilintide alone and 2.2 with cagrilintide plus semaglutide, over 32 weeks. In a 2025 phase 3 diabetes trial, 73.5% of people on the combination reached an HbA1c of 6.5% or lower, against 15.9% on placebo.
- Once-weekly timing. The long half life allows a single weekly schedule, instead of the daily or even three-times-daily schedules of earlier amylin copies.
- Similar blood levels with kidney or liver differences. A 2026 study found no clear pattern in cagrilintide blood levels across people with normal and reduced kidney or liver function, though the groups were small.
Every finding above comes with side effects reported in the same trials, which are covered in the next section.
How Much Weight Was Lost With Cagrilintide in Studies?
The answer depends on the dose, the length of the trial, and whether it was combined with semaglutide. All figures are averages for a group. Individual results varied, and the placebo groups also changed.
| Study | Length | What was compared | Average weight change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 phase 2, The Lancet | 26 weeks | Cagrilintide 0.3 to 4.5 mg weekly, liraglutide 3.0 mg daily, placebo | 6.0% to 10.8% lost on cagrilintide, 9.0% on liraglutide, 3.0% on placebo |
| 2023 phase 2 diabetes, The Lancet | 32 weeks | Cagrilintide 2.4 mg, semaglutide 2.4 mg, or both | 8.1% on cagrilintide, 5.1% on semaglutide, 15.6% on both |
| 2025 phase 3, New England Journal of Medicine | 68 weeks | Cagrilintide and semaglutide, 2.4 mg each, against placebo | 20.4% on the combination, 3.0% on placebo |
| 2025 phase 3 diabetes, New England Journal of Medicine | 68 weeks | The same combination against placebo, in type 2 diabetes | 13.7% on the combination, 3.4% on placebo |
Trial participants in the 2025 phase 3 study also received lifestyle support in every group, which means diet and activity advice was part of the picture. The summary of that trial does not report the cagrilintide-alone group, so that result is not given here.
Side effects are part of the weight story. In the 2021 phase 2 trial, stomach and gut side effects, mainly nausea, were reported by 41% to 63% of people on cagrilintide, against 32% on placebo, and nausea by 20% to 47%, against 18%. About 10% of people stopped treatment, and 4% stopped because of side effects. In the 2025 phase 3 trial, stomach and gut side effects affected 79.6% on the combination, against 39.9% on placebo, and were mostly short-lived and mild to moderate.
See also: Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide, How the Research Compares
Cagrilintide Dosage and Administration
In trials, cagrilintide is given once a week as an injection under the skin, and the amount is raised in steps. The table lists the main studies and the amounts they tested.
| Study | Who took part | Weekly amounts tested | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 phase 2 trial | 706 adults with overweight or obesity, no diabetes | 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, and 4.5 mg | Dose-raising period of up to 6 weeks, 26 weeks in total, then 6 weeks of follow-up |
| 2021 phase 1b trial | 96 adults with a body mass index of 27 to 39.9 | 0.16, 0.30, 0.60, 1.2, 2.4, and 4.5 mg, each with semaglutide 2.4 mg | Both compounds raised together every 4 weeks over 16 weeks |
| 2023 phase 2 trial | 92 adults with type 2 diabetes | 2.4 mg alone, or 2.4 mg with semaglutide 2.4 mg | 32 weeks |
| 2026 kidney and liver study | 65 adults with normal or reduced kidney or liver function | A single 0.6 mg or 0.9 mg amount | Blood levels were similar across groups |
Every dose above was given inside a clinical trial, run by trained staff under a written plan. They are not instructions, and they do not show that any amount is right or safe outside a study. Step-up schedules, storage times, and side effect rates published on vendor and clinic websites could not be matched to the trial papers, so they are not repeated here. Questions about the regulatory status of any compound, and about dosage rules, should go to qualified regulatory or legal advisers.
Reconstitution. Reconstitution just means adding liquid to the dry powder in a vial so it becomes a solution that can be measured. Research cagrilintide arrives as a freeze-dried powder, and the steps below match the general method in the peptide reconstitution guide. The supplier’s own paperwork comes first, because details differ by product.
Before starting, check the vial against its Certificate of Analysis, the lab paperwork that shows what is inside and how pure it is. Gather bacteriostatic water, which is sterile water with a small amount of preservative, plus alcohol swabs, gloves, labels, and a sharps container.
Concentration calculator. Concentration means how much peptide sits in each milliliter of liquid. The math is the milligrams in the vial divided by the milliliters of water added. The concentration calculator does this for you and avoids decimal mistakes. The table shows the idea for a 5 mg vial, used here only as an example.
| Water added | Final strength | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 5 mg per mL | Most concentrated |
| 2 mL | 2.5 mg per mL | Medium |
| 2.5 mL | 2 mg per mL | Easy to measure |
| 5 mL | 1 mg per mL | Most diluted |
More water means a weaker mix, not less peptide. The total amount in the vial never changes.
The mixing steps.
- Lay out everything first, then wipe the rubber tops of both vials with alcohol.
- Settle the water amount before touching the vial.
- Draw the water and clear any air bubbles.
- Add the water slowly, letting it run down the inside wall of the vial instead of hitting the powder.
- Swirl gently and never shake. A 2017 review in Interface Focus lists shaking, temperature, concentration, acidity, and contact with surfaces among the things that can make peptides clump, and amylin-type peptides are known for clumping.
- Check that the liquid looks clear. If it looks cloudy or has particles, do not keep using it.
- Label the vial with the date and the final concentration, then refrigerate it right away.
Storage and handling. Keep the freeze-dried vial as the supplier’s paperwork says, since dry powder is generally the steadier form. After mixing, refrigerate the vial, keep it out of direct light, and avoid repeated freezing and thawing. Use a fresh needle and swab for every draw, and note that bacteriostatic water has its own use window after it is first punctured, which is on its label. None of the sources reviewed reports a tested shelf life for reconstituted research cagrilintide, so no number is given, and the supplier’s documentation is the best reference.
Why the long half life matters for handling. With a half life of about a week, levels build over several weekly doses and take weeks to fade, which fits the 5 to 6 weeks of follow-up in the trials. A vial used across many weeks of lab work also has to stay stable that whole time, so storage deserves extra care. These notes describe general laboratory habits for research material and are not a procedure for any person.
Cagrilintide vs. Other Weight-Loss Peptides
Cagrilintide sits in a crowded group of weekly-dosed compounds. The main difference is the hormone each one copies.
| Compound | What it copies | A major trial result | How often it was given |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cagrilintide | Amylin, a fullness hormone | 10.8% weight loss at 26 weeks with 4.5 mg | Once a week |
| Semaglutide | GLP-1, a gut hormone | 14.9% at 68 weeks with 2.4 mg, against 2.4% on placebo | Once a week |
| Tirzepatide | Two gut hormones, GIP and GLP-1 | 15.0%, 19.5%, and 20.9% at 72 weeks with 5, 10, and 15 mg, against 3.1% on placebo | Once a week |
| Retatrutide | Three hormones, GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon | 24.2% at 48 weeks with 12 mg, against 2.1% on placebo | Once a week |
| Liraglutide | GLP-1, but shorter lasting | 9.0% at 26 weeks with 3.0 mg | Once a day |
| Pramlintide | Amylin, an earlier copy | Used for diabetes alongside insulin, so no weight figure is given | Several times a day |
Three cautions apply when reading this table. The trials differ in length, in who took part, and in how results were counted, so the numbers are not a head-to-head contest. The gut-hormone compounds mostly cause stomach and gut side effects such as nausea, and the retatrutide trial also reported heart rate increases that were dose-related. And cagrilintide’s most interesting role in the research may be as a partner, because the 2023 and 2025 trials found that cagrilintide plus semaglutide beat either alone in the same trial.
See also: What Is Retatrutide? Mechanism, Research and Uses
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cagrilintide?
Cagrilintide is a long-acting, lab-made copy of amylin, a fullness hormone made by the pancreas. It is studied for weight management and type 2 diabetes, alone and with semaglutide.
What is the usual cagrilintide dosage in research?
Published trials tested once-weekly amounts from 0.3 to 4.5 mg, raised in steps over several weeks. The combination trials used 2.4 mg of each compound. These are trial amounts and not instructions.
How much weight did people lose in studies?
It depended on dose and length. Cagrilintide alone produced 6.0% to 10.8% in a 26-week trial, and the combination with semaglutide produced 20.4% over 68 weeks in adults without diabetes.
How is cagrilintide reconstituted?
Bacteriostatic water is added slowly to the freeze-dried powder, the vial is swirled gently, and it is labeled and refrigerated. The concentration is the milligrams in the vial divided by the milliliters of water added, and the concentration calculator can do the math.
What is the half life of cagrilintide?
In a 2021 phase 1b trial, the half life was 159 to 195 hours, about 6.6 to 8.1 days.
How long does cagrilintide last after mixing?
No tested shelf life for reconstituted research cagrilintide appears in the sources reviewed. The supplier’s documentation for that product is the best reference.
How is cagrilintide different from semaglutide?
Cagrilintide copies amylin, while semaglutide copies the gut hormone GLP-1. They work on different pathways, which is why trials tested them together.
Key Takeaways
- What it is. Cagrilintide is a long-acting copy of amylin, the body’s fullness hormone.
- Weight results. Trials reported average weight loss of 6.0% to 10.8% for cagrilintide alone and 20.4% for the combination with semaglutide over 68 weeks.
- Side effects. Stomach and gut side effects were the most common, and they affected 41% to 63% of people on cagrilintide in a phase 2 trial.
- Trial doses. Studies tested weekly amounts from 0.16 to 4.5 mg, raised in steps, and these are study amounts and not instructions.
- Reconstitution. Add bacteriostatic water slowly, swirl and never shake, label, refrigerate, and use the concentration calculator for concentration math.
- Half life. About 159 to 195 hours, which is why trials use a weekly schedule and why storage should be planned for weeks.
Research Use Disclaimer
This content is provided for Research Use Only (RUO). The compounds discussed are not drugs, dietary supplements, foods, or cosmetics, and are not intended for human or animal consumption, diagnostic use, or therapeutic use of any kind. They have not been evaluated by the FDA for safety or efficacy in humans. Any research use must be conducted by qualified professionals in a controlled laboratory environment, in accordance with all applicable institutional, local, and federal regulations.
Sources
- Lau DCW, Erichsen L, Francisco AM, et al. 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. Lancet. 2021.
- Enebo LB, Berthelsen KK, Kankam M, et al. Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of concomitant administration of multiple doses of cagrilintide with semaglutide 2.4 mg for weight management, a randomised, controlled, phase 1b trial. Lancet. 2021.
- Kruse T, Hansen JL, Dahl K, et al. Development of cagrilintide, a long-acting amylin analogue. J Med Chem. 2021.
- Frias JP, Deenadayalan S, Erichsen L, et al. Efficacy and safety of co-administered once-weekly cagrilintide 2.4 mg with once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg in type 2 diabetes, a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet. 2023.
- Garvey WT, Blüher M, Osorto Contreras CK, et al. Coadministered cagrilintide and semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. N Engl J Med. 2025.
- Davies MJ, Bajaj HS, Broholm C, et al. Cagrilintide-semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2025.
- Nielsen MJF, Becker NP, Duus HHH, et al. Renal or hepatic impairment does not affect pharmacokinetics, safety, or tolerability of subcutaneous cagrilintide. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2026.
- Larsen AT, Mohamed KE, Sonne N, et al. Does receptor balance matter? Comparing the efficacies of the dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonists cagrilintide and KBP-336 on metabolic parameters in preclinical models. Biomed Pharmacother. 2022.
- Zapadka KL, Becher FJ, Gomes Dos Santos AL, Jackson SE. Factors affecting the physical stability (aggregation) of peptide therapeutics. Interface Focus. 2017.
- Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021.
- Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity. N Engl J Med. 2022.
- Jastreboff AM, Kaplan LM, Frías JP, et al. Triple-hormone-receptor agonist retatrutide for obesity, a phase 2 trial. N Engl J Med. 2023.
Explore the weight loss research category for related research compounds, and use the concentration calculator for concentration math. For related reading, see the cagrilintide mechanism guide and the peptide reconstitution guide.
