• Cagrilintide is an injectable amylin analog for weight loss developed by Novo Nordisk for chronic weight management.

• Works by slowing gastric emptying, suppressing appetite, and enhancing satiety.

• In trials, Cagrilintide and semaglutide combination showed nearly double the weight loss compared to semaglutide alone.

• Still under investigation, not yet FDA-approved as of 2025.

• Represents the next frontier in obesity pharmacotherapy, targeting multiple hormonal pathways.

Cagrilintide is a synthetic analog of amylin, a natural hormone co-secreted with insulin by the pancreatic beta cells.
Amylin helps regulate appetite, gastric emptying, and post-meal glucose control.

In people with obesity or type 2 diabetes, amylin levels are often deficient, leading to faster gastric emptying, stronger hunger signals, and difficulty maintaining weight loss.

Cagrilintide mimics this hormone but with a longer half-life, allowing once-weekly injection similar to semaglutide.

Cagrilintide works on several levels:

1. Delays gastric emptying → promotes fullness and reduces meal size.

2. Suppresses appetite via the brain’s hypothalamic centers.

3. Improves satiety signaling → reduces food cravings and binge tendencies.

4. Modulates glucose and energy balance → helps sustain weight loss long-term.

When paired with GLP-1 receptor agonists (like semaglutide), cagrilintide targets two complementary hormone systems, creating a dual-hormone synergy.

The most promising results come from Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema clinical program.
In Phase 2 trials:

• Participants on cagrilintide + semaglutide combination 2.4 mg lost up to 17–20% of body weight in 20–26 weeks.

• This outperformed semaglutide alone by roughly 70–90% greater reduction in fat mass.

• Reported improvements included lower blood pressure, triglycerides, and waist circumference.

The combination is now advancing into Phase 3 trials, expected to complete by 2026–2027.

Potential Benefits:

• Greater weight loss efficacy than single-agent GLP-1s

• Enhanced satiety and appetite control

• Reduced caloric intake without stimulant side effects

• Possible benefits on glucose regulation and lipids

Considerations:

• Still experimental — not yet available for clinical use

• May share similar GI side effects (nausea, fullness, constipation)

• Requires ongoing injection therapy for maintenance

If current trials continue to show success, cagrilintide-based combinations could usher in a new generation of multi-agonist weight-loss medications—similar to how tirzepatide built on semaglutide’s success by adding GIP activity.

By targeting amylin and GLP-1 receptors simultaneously, these agents may achieve surgical-level fat reduction without invasive procedures.

At Leva Medical, we closely monitor emerging data on metabolic therapies like semaglutide, tirzepatide, and cagrilintide.
Our weight-management specialists are dedicated to bringing the most advanced, evidence-based options to patients in Elmhurst, Queens, and across New York City.

If cagrilintide receives FDA approval, it could become the next breakthrough in personalized, hormone-based weight loss.