What it means
Cagrilintide is built to act like amylin, a fullness hormone, but to last about a week instead of minutes. It works on amylin receptors and also on calcitonin receptors, which is why it is described as a dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist.
It has been studied mainly as half of CagriSema. In the REDEFINE 1 trial, a cagrilintide-only group also lost weight, though less than the group on the combination. Novo Nordisk has also studied cagrilintide by itself for weight management.
Cagrilintide is not FDA-approved. Common side effects in trials were stomach-related, such as nausea and constipation.
Interest in amylin drugs comes partly from the idea that they may reduce appetite through a different route than GLP-1, which might help preserve tolerability or add to weight loss. That is still being tested.
Why it matters
Cagrilintide is the amylin half of a combination that may become the next weekly weight-loss shot.
Related terms
Sources
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