Cagrilintide / CagriSema
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Complete Research Guide
Open each section for the available evidence. Gaps are stated rather than inferred.
Overview
Cagrilintide / CagriSema is listed as metabolic / long-acting amylin analog.
- •Obesity (investigational)
Regulatory status: Investigational (Novo Nordisk, Phase 3 REDEFINE).
Structure & Properties
Compound: Cagrilintide / CagriSema; also known as AM833, Cagrilintide + Semaglutide.
Pharmacologic class: Metabolic / Long-acting Amylin Analog.
Known delivery routes: Subcutaneous.
Sequence, molecular weight, salt form, and excipient details are formulation-specific and are not listed unless verified by a manufacturer or laboratory COA.
How It Works
Long-acting amylin receptor agonist — slows gastric emptying and suppresses postprandial glucagon; synergistic with GLP-1 (semaglutide).
- •Additive weight loss with GLP-1
- •Improved satiety
- •Glycemic control
Human Research
Evidence grade: Clinical RCT (Limited)
Clinical RCT (Limited). Phase 3 REDEFINE-1 reported ~22% weight loss.
Laboratory Research
Phase 3 REDEFINE-1 reported ~22% weight loss
Preclinical findings describe biological plausibility, not proven benefit in people. Animal and laboratory doses do not translate directly to human use.
Processing & Interactions
Timing and exposure
Once weekly, with or without food.
Potential interactions and combinations to avoid
- •Pramlintide (same amylin class)
Absorption, half-life, metabolism, and clearance can vary by formulation and route. Use prescribing information when an approved product exists.
Safety & Precautions
Known or reported risks
- •Nausea, vomiting
- •Injection-site reactions
- •Hypoglycemia (with insulin/SU)
Contraindications
- •MTC / MEN-2 (when combined with semaglutide)
- •Pregnancy
- •Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN-2 syndrome
- •History of pancreatitis or unexplained elevated lipase/amylase
- •Gastroparesis, severe GERD, or chronic gastrointestinal motility disorder
- •History of symptomatic gallstones or biliary disease
- •Active eating disorder, malnutrition, or BMI already in the underweight range
- •Type 1 diabetes as monotherapy for glycemic control
- •Planned surgery/anesthesia without pre-procedure fasting adjustment (aspiration risk)
- •Proliferative diabetic retinopathy with rapid glycemic lowering
- •Severe renal impairment with ongoing dehydration or vomiting
- •Bleeding disorders or anticoagulant therapy without physician guidance (injection-site haematoma)
- •Active skin infection, cellulitis, or lipohypertrophy at intended injection sites
- •Inability to maintain sterile technique or safe sharps disposal
- •Not FDA-approved for human therapeutic use — no verified purity, sterility, or potency standards
- •Immunocompromised or transplant patients (unverified sterility and immunogenicity risk)
- •Concurrent participation in drug-tested sport (WADA prohibited or non-cleared substance)
- •Known hypersensitivity or prior reaction to this compound or any excipient/diluent
- •Pregnancy, attempting conception, or breastfeeding unless prescribed and monitored by a physician
- •Children and adolescents with open growth plates (unless under specialist endocrine care)
- •Active or recently treated malignancy without oncology clearance
- •Use without a confirmed diagnosis, baseline labs, and licensed clinical supervision
Unknown long-term toxicity should be assumed where controlled human data are limited. Seek urgent care for a severe or unexpected reaction.
Administration & Studied Formulations
Reference range: 0.16–2.4 mg/week (mono); CagriSema 2.4/2.4 mg in trials
Frequency: Weekly
Cycling: Continuous with stepwise titration.
Subcutaneous (SubQ)
Default route for most research and therapeutic peptides — best absorption for reconstituted powder.
31G × 5/16" insulin syringe (U-100). 100 units = 1 mL. Pinch skin at abdomen (2" from navel), outer thigh, or love handle. Insert at 45–90°. Rotate sites daily to prevent lipohypertrophy. Alcohol-swab site, air-dry, inject slow, hold 5 sec.
Dosing information is educational context, not a personal recommendation. Approved products must follow their label and prescriber instructions.
Applications & Related Therapies
Potentially complementary measures
- •Semaglutide (CagriSema is the intended combination)
Clinical use should account for diagnosis, approved alternatives, nutrition, activity, sleep, rehabilitation, current medicines, and appropriate monitoring.
Cases, Considerations & Ethics
Decision framework: establish the clinical goal, confirm evidence quality and legal status, screen contraindications and interactions, compare approved alternatives, define monitoring and stopping criteria, and use shared decision-making with a licensed clinician.
Case evidence: individual reports cannot establish safety or effectiveness and should not outweigh controlled trials.
Ethics: informed consent should distinguish established care from experimental use, disclose uncertainty and cost, avoid overstated claims, and never substitute research products for medically necessary care.
What is Cagrilintide / CagriSema?
In plain words
Cagrilintide is a lab-made, longer-lasting version of amylin, a hormone that helps signal fullness; CagriSema pairs it with semaglutide. It acts on the body’s fullness signals, slows food leaving the stomach, and reduces a hormone that raises blood sugar after meals. Researchers are studying these treatments for weight loss, but they are not FDA-approved. Side effects can include nausea, vomiting, and injection-site reactions; low blood sugar is a concern when combined with insulin or certain diabetes medicines.
Technical definition
Cagrilintide (AM833) is a long-acting, acylated peptide analog of the pancreatic hormone amylin; CagriSema combines cagrilintide with semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Cagrilintide activates amylin receptors to promote satiety, slow gastric emptying, and suppress post-meal glucagon secretion, complementing semaglutide’s effects on appetite and glucose regulation. Cagrilintide and CagriSema are investigational obesity treatments, with CagriSema studied in the Phase 3 REDEFINE program; neither is FDA-approved.
Function
Dosing
Recommended Time of Day
Same day each week, any time of day — often paired with weekly semaglutide.
See “Timing & Interactions” below for full fasted/fed circumstances, what to avoid combining, and what pairs well.
Administration & Technique
Injection & Application Sites
- Abdomen — 2 in (5 cm) away from the navel, either side. Fastest, most consistent SubQ absorption.
- Flank / love handle — Lateral fat pad above the hip. Good rotation site when the abdomen is tender.
- Outer thigh — Upper outer quadrant, a hand-width below the hip. SubQ pinch at 45°.
Diagram is a general illustration, not a medical instruction. Rotate sites every injection, keep 1 in (2.5 cm) between recent sites, and avoid scars, moles, bruises and the navel area.
Cycling
Continuous with stepwise titration.
Timing & Interactions
- ·Pramlintide (same amylin class)
- ·Semaglutide (CagriSema is the intended combination)
Storage & Reconstitution
Reconstitution Calculator
1 mL = 100 units on a standard U-100 insulin syringe. Draw to the nearest 0.5 unit and confirm dosing with a clinician before injection.
Your Notes
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Benefits
- ·Additive weight loss with GLP-1
- ·Improved satiety
- ·Glycemic control
Risks
- ·Nausea, vomiting
- ·Injection-site reactions
- ·Hypoglycemia (with insulin/SU)
Contraindications
- ·MTC / MEN-2 (when combined with semaglutide)
- ·Pregnancy
- ·Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN-2 syndrome
- ·History of pancreatitis or unexplained elevated lipase/amylase
- ·Gastroparesis, severe GERD, or chronic gastrointestinal motility disorder
- ·History of symptomatic gallstones or biliary disease
- ·Active eating disorder, malnutrition, or BMI already in the underweight range
- ·Type 1 diabetes as monotherapy for glycemic control
- ·Planned surgery/anesthesia without pre-procedure fasting adjustment (aspiration risk)
- ·Proliferative diabetic retinopathy with rapid glycemic lowering
- ·Severe renal impairment with ongoing dehydration or vomiting
- ·Bleeding disorders or anticoagulant therapy without physician guidance (injection-site haematoma)
- ·Active skin infection, cellulitis, or lipohypertrophy at intended injection sites
- ·Inability to maintain sterile technique or safe sharps disposal
- ·Not FDA-approved for human therapeutic use — no verified purity, sterility, or potency standards
- ·Immunocompromised or transplant patients (unverified sterility and immunogenicity risk)
- ·Concurrent participation in drug-tested sport (WADA prohibited or non-cleared substance)
- ·Known hypersensitivity or prior reaction to this compound or any excipient/diluent
- ·Pregnancy, attempting conception, or breastfeeding unless prescribed and monitored by a physician
- ·Children and adolescents with open growth plates (unless under specialist endocrine care)
- ·Active or recently treated malignancy without oncology clearance
- ·Use without a confirmed diagnosis, baseline labs, and licensed clinical supervision
Regulatory
Investigational (Novo Nordisk, Phase 3 REDEFINE)
Veterinary Use (Pets)
No established veterinary protocol for Cagrilintide / CagriSema. Consult a licensed veterinarian before considering off-label use in any species.
Full veterinary reference →Functional Groups
Cited Works
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