Cagrilintide

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Medical disclaimer. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician before considering any compound discussed below. See Retapedia : Medical disclaimer.

Summary

What it does
Cagrilintide is used for weight loss in obesity and type 2 diabetes, alone or paired with semaglutide as CagriSema. In a late-stage trial, a 2.4 mg weekly dose lowered body weight by 11.8% over 68 weeks, against 2.3% on a dummy injection (placebo).
How it works
A lab-made, long-acting version of amylin, a hormone the body releases with insulin to signal fullness. It is given as an injection under the skin once a week.
WADA status
Prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Drug-tested athletes cannot use it.

Cagrilintide (also known as AM833 or NN9838 or Long-acting amylin analogue) is a modified peptide studied for its effects on fat loss, weight loss, and diabetes. Investigational once-weekly amylin analogue tested for obesity and type 2 diabetes, alone and with semaglutide as CagriSema. Not FDA-approved.

Cagrilintide (AM833, NN9838) is an investigational long-acting analogue of amylin, a hormone released alongside insulin that signals fullness, developed by Novo Nordisk as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection. It is being tested to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes by itself and in combination with semaglutide as cagrilintide/semaglutide ("CagriSema"). In a phase 2 dose-finding trial, once-weekly doses from 0.3 mg to 4.5 mg reduced body weight by 6.0% to 10.8% at 26 weeks, compared with 3.0% on placebo.

Natty status
Cagrilintide is classified as not natty. It is prohibited by WADA and most natural bodybuilding federations. Use places the athlete in the enhanced category. See § Natty status.
Contents [hide]
  1. 1 Overview
  2. 2 Mechanism of action
  3. 3 Reported effects
  4. 4 Dosage and administration
  5. 5 Natty status
  6. 6 Research
  7. 7 Related compounds
  8. 8 Frequently asked questions
  9. 9 References
  10. 10 External links

Overview

In the phase 3 REDEFINE 1 trial, cagrilintide 2.4 mg alone reduced body weight by 11.8% at 68 weeks, compared with 2.3% on placebo.

Not FDA-approved; because it has no regulatory approval for human therapeutic use anywhere, it is prohibited by WADA at all times under category S0 (non-approved substances).

Mechanism of action

Long-acting amylin analogue that signals fullness and reduces body weight. Given as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection. Investigational for obesity and type 2 diabetes, alone or with semaglutide.

Reported effects

Effects reported in the literature and from preclinical models include:

  • Cagrilintide combined with semaglutide (CagriSema) produced about 7.5 to 9 percentage points greater body weight loss than semaglutide 2.4 mg alone in pooled randomized trials. [1][2] Phase II
  • Cagrilintide alone produced weight loss comparable to semaglutide or liraglutide in pooled randomized trials. [1][2] Phase II
  • Cagrilintide alone caused significantly less vomiting than semaglutide or liraglutide in a meta-analysis of randomized trials. [1] Phase II
  • Overall and serious adverse event rates with CagriSema were comparable to those with semaglutide in meta-analyses of randomized trials. [1][2] Phase II
  • CagriSema caused more gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea and vomiting, than semaglutide alone in meta-analyses of randomized trials. [1][2] Phase II
  • Cagrilintide alone carried a higher risk of serious adverse events than semaglutide in a meta-analysis of randomized trials. [2] Phase II

Evidence grades: FDA approvedApproved (non-US)Phase IIIPhase IIPhase IPreclinicalAnecdotal

Dosage and administration

⚠
Dosage information is included for encyclopedic purposes only. Retapedia does not provide medical advice. See Retapedia : Medical disclaimer.

General

  • Phase 3 REDEFINE protocol - target dose: 2.4mg once weekly (subcutaneous), alone or with semaglutide 2.4mg as CagriSema
  • Phase 3 escalation: 0.25mg weeks 0-3, 0.5mg weeks 4-7, 1.0mg weeks 8-11, 1.7mg weeks 12-15, then 2.4mg from week 16
  • Phase 2 dose-finding trial: 0.3mg, 0.6mg, 1.2mg, 2.4mg or 4.5mg once weekly for 26 weeks, with up to 6 weeks of dose escalation

Natty status

See also: Peptide § Natty status

Cagrilintide is classified as not natty. It appears on the WADA prohibited list and is banned by major natural bodybuilding federations.[3] Use of this compound places the athlete in the enhanced category rather than the natural category in competitive contexts.

Research

18 active clinical trials on record — highest phase: Phase 3. 44 registered in total , of which 24 completed
View on ClinicalTrials.gov · fetched Oct 24, 2026

The peptide has been the subject of 5 studies and reference works collected on this site. Additional bibliography is in § External links below.

Other peptides in this catalogue with overlapping mechanisms or status:

Retatrutide Not natty
Triple agonist that curbs appetite and raises energy expenditure for 24% weight loss. Improves blood sugar, lowers blood pressure, and normalizes liver fat. Investigational; not FDA-approved.
AOD-9604 Not natty
Growth hormone fragment designed to promote fat breakdown without effects on growth, blood sugar, or IGF-1. A 24-week obesity trial found no significant weight loss over placebo.
MOTS-c Not natty
Mitochondrial-derived peptide that activates AMPK to improve insulin sensitivity and reproduce exercise-like metabolic adaptations in preclinical models. Investigational and WADA-banned; no approved human use.
Ozempic Natty
Reduces appetite and slows digestion for 15-21% weight loss. Improves blood sugar control. Lowers heart attack and stroke risk by 20%.

Frequently asked questions

What is Cagrilintide?

Investigational once-weekly amylin analogue tested for obesity and type 2 diabetes, alone and with semaglutide as CagriSema. Not FDA-approved.

What is Cagrilintide used for?

Cagrilintide is used for weight loss in obesity and type 2 diabetes, alone or paired with semaglutide as CagriSema. In a late-stage trial, a 2.4 mg weekly dose lowered body weight by 11.8% over 68 weeks, against 2.3% on a dummy injection (placebo).

How does Cagrilintide work?

A lab-made, long-acting version of amylin, a hormone the body releases with insulin to signal fullness. It is given as an injection under the skin once a week.

Is Cagrilintide natty?

No. Cagrilintide is classified as not natty. It is prohibited by WADA and banned by most natural bodybuilding federations. Use places an athlete in the enhanced category.

Is Cagrilintide banned by WADA?

Yes. Cagrilintide is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), so drug-tested athletes cannot use it. Check the current WADA Prohibited List before competing.

How is Cagrilintide administered?

Cagrilintide is typically administered via: subcutaneous injection. Dosage and administration protocols vary; see the Dosage section for details.

References

  1. a b c d e Efficacy and Safety of Cagrilintide Alone and in Combination with Semaglutide (Cagrisema) as Anti-Obesity Medications: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Recent review
  2. a b c d e Efficacy and Safety of Cagrilintide and Cagrisema Versus Semaglutide as Anti-Obesity Medications: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression. Recent review
  3. a b World Anti-Doping Agency. (2026). Prohibited List 2026.

External links

Categories: Peptides | Performance-enhancing substances | Fat loss | Weight loss | Diabetes | Metabolic health

This page was last updated on October 24, 2026, at 02:51 (UTC).

Research last reviewed on October 24, 2026.

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