What it is
Cagrilintide is a long-acting, man-made version of amylin, a hormone the pancreas releases with insulin after meals. Novo Nordisk is developing it mainly in a weekly combination with semaglutide called CagriSema.
Amylin signals fullness to the brain and slows stomach emptying. Pairing it with a GLP-1 medicine is meant to reduce appetite through two different pathways at once.
US regulatory status
Investigational and not FDA-approved. Novo Nordisk submitted CagriSema to the FDA in December 2025, and a decision was still pending as of late October 2026.
What the research shows
Phase 3 REDEFINE trials reported more weight loss with CagriSema than with placebo and somewhat more than with semaglutide alone, though results fell short of some expectations set by the company. Data on cagrilintide used by itself are more limited. Long-term safety is still being studied.
How it is given
Weekly subcutaneous injection (in clinical trials)
Commonly reported side effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Stomach discomfort
Questions to ask your provider
- If CagriSema is approved, would it be a better fit for me than my current medicine?
- What approved options could help me now?
- Why should I avoid products sold online as cagrilintide?