CagriSema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide)
Fixed-dose combination of long-acting amylin receptor agonist (cagrilintide 2.4 mg) + GLP-1 receptor agonist (semaglutide 2.4 mg)
- Class
- Dual-mechanism weight loss
- Half-life
- ~5-7 days
- Route
- Subcutaneous (SubQ)
- Cadence
- Weekly
- Evidence
- Human clinical trials
Overview
CagriSema is Novo Nordisk's next-generation weight-loss combination: cagrilintide (a long-acting amylin analog) plus semaglutide (the GLP-1 drug sold as Wegovy/Ozempic) in a single weekly injection. The Phase 3 REDEFINE 1 trial delivered 20.4% mean weight loss at 68 weeks — more than semaglutide alone (14.9%) but landing short of the 25% Novo initially projected. Sixty percent of participants hit ≥20% weight loss, and 23% crossed the ≥30% threshold.
The mechanistic bet here is orthogonal appetite suppression: semaglutide works via GLP-1 receptors in the hypothalamus (slowing gastric emptying, quieting food cravings), while cagrilintide hits amylin receptors in the brainstem's dorsal vagal complex — a different satiety circuit entirely. Hitting both pathways simultaneously produces additive weight loss without doubling the side-effect burden of either drug alone.
CagriSema is under FDA review as of December 2025 for weight management in adults with obesity or overweight plus at least one weight-related comorbidity. If approved, it'll compete directly with Eli Lilly's tirzepatide (Zepbound) — which hit 22.5% mean weight loss head-to-head in SURMOUNT-1. Novo filed based on two pivotal Phase 3 trials (REDEFINE 1 in non-diabetics, REDEFINE 2 in type-2 diabetes patients), and the cardiovascular outcomes trial (REDEFINE-3) is still running.
Safety considerations
A few of the safety signals worth knowing — the full list, with dosing context and what to monitor, is inside AIx Core.
- Not yet approved anywhere as of June 2026 — FDA decision expected late 2026 based on REDEFINE 1/2 data. Currently investigational.
- Black-box warning for thyroid C-cell tumors (inherited from semaglutide's GLP-1 mechanism) — absolute contraindication if you or a close family member has medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN-2 syndrome.
- Pancreatitis is rare but real with GLP-1 drugs — severe, persistent abdominal pain radiating to your back is a stop-immediately signal.
+ 3 more safety notes inside AIx Core →
Commonly monitored
Markers and signals people track when researching CagriSema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide).
- Body weight (weekly weigh-ins at the same time of day)
- Body composition (DEXA or bioimpedance every 8-12 weeks — lean mass preservation matters)
- Fasting glucose / HbA1c (especially if you're prediabetic or T2D)
- Lipid panel (LDL, triglycerides — both improve with weight loss)
- Resting heart rate (incretin drugs can nudge it up 2-5 bpm)
- Gallbladder symptoms (right-upper-quadrant pain, especially during rapid weight loss)
Frequently asked questions
What is CagriSema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide)?
Fixed-dose combination of long-acting amylin receptor agonist (cagrilintide 2.4 mg) + GLP-1 receptor agonist (semaglutide 2.4 mg). CagriSema is Novo Nordisk's next-generation weight-loss combination: cagrilintide (a long-acting amylin analog) plus semaglutide (the GLP-1 drug sold as Wegovy/Ozempic) in a single weekly injection. The Phase 3 REDEFINE 1 trial delivered 20.4% mean weight loss at 68 weeks — more than semaglutide alone (14.9%) but landing short of the 25% Novo initially projected. Sixty percent of participants hit ≥20% weight loss, and 23% crossed the ≥30% threshold.
How is CagriSema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide) administered?
Subcutaneous (SubQ), typically weekly.
What is the half-life of CagriSema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide)?
~5-7 days — Both components engineered for weekly dosing — semaglutide ~7 days, cagrilintide ~160 hours.
Is CagriSema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide) approved for human use?
CagriSema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide) is investigational — not approved by the FDA, EMA, or MHRA for human use at the time of writing.
What does the evidence show for CagriSema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide)?
Evidence tier: Human clinical trials. <cite index="2-3,4-3">REDEFINE 1 (Phase 3a, N=3,417, 68 weeks): 60% of participants on CagriSema 2.4/2.4 mg achieved ≥20% weight loss, 23% hit ≥30%, with mean weight reduction of 20.4%</cite> — intention-to-treat analysis including all discontinuations.
What is commonly monitored when researching CagriSema (Cagrilintide + Semaglutide)?
Commonly tracked markers + signals: Body weight (weekly weigh-ins at the same time of day), Body composition (DEXA or bioimpedance every 8-12 weeks — lean mass preservation matters), Fasting glucose / HbA1c (especially if you're prediabetic or T2D), Lipid panel (LDL, triglycerides — both improve with weight loss), Resting heart rate (incretin drugs can nudge it up 2-5 bpm), Gallbladder symptoms (right-upper-quadrant pain, especially during rapid weight loss).
Related compounds
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Mechanism breakdown, receptor pathway diagram, full safety list, monitored items, source citations, and one-tap add-to-protocol. Free with any account.