Cagrilintide
Long-Acting Amylin Receptor Agonist | Weight Reduction & Diabetes
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What is Cagrilintide?
Cagrilintide is a lab-made, long-acting analog of amylin, a natural hormone involved in appetite and blood-sugar regulation. It's one of the most heavily studied compounds in current metabolic research, including large weight-management and diabetes clinical trials, often studied together with semaglutide. Research-grade cagrilintide sold here is intended for laboratory research use only — it is not an approved medication, and it is not a substitute for one.
Key terms:
Cagrilintide is a amylin receptor agonist.
Cagrilintide (AM833) is a long-acting, lab-made version of amylin, a hormone that helps control appetite and blood sugar. A fatty-acid chain makes it last longer, and it switches on both amylin and calcitonin receptors. Researchers study it for weight management and type 2 diabetes. Paired with semaglutide (a combination called CagriSema), trials reported greater weight reduction, with recent Phase 3 trials reporting up to 22.7%.
Key research areas
- FDA development candidate with extensive Phase 3 data
- Greater weight reduction reported in trials combining with semaglutide (CagriSema)
- Once-weekly convenience dosing
- 22.7% weight reduction demonstrated in Phase 3 trials
- 15.7% weight reduction in diabetic patients with concurrent glycemic improvements
Researched dosing
This table reflects how researchers have structured cagrilintide study designs — the escalation schedules and dose ranges used in published trials, presented as research methodology, not personal usage guidance.
| Phase | Dose | Frequency | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight-reduction studies — single agent | 2.4 mg weekly | Once weekly | Subcutaneous injection |
| Weight-reduction studies — CagriSema | 2.4 mg + semaglutide 2.4 mg | Once weekly | Subcutaneous injection |
| Type 2 diabetes studies | 2.4 mg weekly | Once weekly | Subcutaneous injection with metformin |
| Dose-escalation protocol | 0.25 mg → 0.5 mg → 1.0 mg → 1.7 mg → 2.4 mg | Weekly increases over 16 weeks | Subcutaneous injection |
| Combination diabetes studies | 2.4 mg + SGLT2 inhibitor | Once weekly | Subcutaneous injection |
| Cardiovascular-outcome studies | 2.4 mg weekly | Once weekly | Subcutaneous injection (REDEFINE 3 trial) |
Commonly cycled 68 weeks on, 0+ weeks off.
How it works
At the cell level, cagrilintide research looks at how the peptide activates amylin and calcitonin receptors involved in satiety signaling and blood-sugar regulation — the terms below are just the names for those signaling steps.
Subcutaneous injection provides optimal bioavailability of lipidated amylin analog, targeting dual amylin and calcitonin receptors for satiety and metabolic effects
Molecular data
These figures — molecular weight, amino-acid sequence, chain length — are the chemistry basics researchers use to confirm a cagrilintide sample's identity and its fatty-acid modification, which is part of what gives it such a long duration of action.
- Weight
- 4409.01 Da
- Length
- 37 amino acids
- Type
- Amylin receptor agonist
Lys-Cys-Asn-Thr-Ala-Thr-Cys-Ala-Thr-Gln-Arg-Leu-Ala-Asn-Phe-Leu-Val-His-Ser-Ser-Asn-Asn-Phe-Gly-Pro-Ile-Leu-Pro-Pro-Thr-Asn-Val-Gly-Ser-Asn-Thr-Tyr-NH₂
Pharmacokinetics
This chart plots how long a research dose of cagrilintide stays active in the literature — its multi-day clearance curve is part of why published trial protocols use once-weekly dosing.
- Peak
- 48 hr
- Half-life
- 180 hrs
- Cleared
- ~900 hrs
Lau et al. J Med Chem 2021
Research applications
This section lists the research areas — weight management and metabolic research chief among them — that scientists have studied for cagrilintide in the clinical-trial literature; it is not an approved medication, and research-grade material sold here is intended for laboratory study only, not human use.
Weight Reduction
Phase 3 trials demonstrate 22.7% weight reduction with CagriSema combination, outperforming existing therapies. 15.7% weight reduction in diabetic patients with concurrent glycemic improvements. Long-acting formulation supports sustained weight reduction throughout treatment period.
Metabolic
Significant glycemic improvements in Type 2 diabetes patients; 73.5% achieved HbA1c ≤6.5% in REDEFINE 2 trial.
Appetite Control
Dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonism produces satiety signals that reduce appetite and food intake.
Dosage reference
- Doses used in research
- Published trials reached 2.4 mg weekly after a 16-week escalation.
- Frequency in studies
- Once weekly, same day each week
- Handling
- Reconstituted solution — research use only; not for administration
- Timeline reported in studies
- Initial effects: 1-2 weeks; Significant weight reduction: 4-12 weeks; Peak effects: 26+ weeks
- Storage
- Store frozen at -20°C, protect from light, do not shake
- Cycle length
- Continuous treatment recommended for sustained effects
- Break between cycles
- Not applicable - continuous therapy for optimal efficacy
Interactions
This list shows which other metabolic-research peptides and medications scientists study alongside cagrilintide, and flags pairings that call for extra caution or monitoring in a research setting.
Reconstitution & storage
This describes how a research-grade cagrilintide sample is prepared and handled in the lab, including the acidic pH range it needs to stay stable — a chemistry-storage note, not a usage guide.
- Reconstitute slowly down side of vial, swirl gently (don't shake)
- Verify solution is clear - any cloudiness or particles indicates fibril formation, discard immediately
- Allow to reach room temperature 15-30 minutes
- Store the reconstituted solution refrigerated (2–8°C), labeled with the date and concentration, for laboratory research use only.
Lyophilized: -20°C, use within Extended when frozen; protect from light
Reconstituted: 2-6°C, use within Inspect for clarity before each injection; pH critical (3.5-4.5)
Open the Cagrilintide reconstitution calculatorQuality indicators
This section lists what researchers check on a lab report (COA) or sample source to confirm cagrilintide's purity, correct pH, and identity before it's used in a study.
Pre-filled pen design - When approved, will likely be available as convenient pre-filled pen similar to other Novo Nordisk products
Pharmaceutical grade purity - Clinical trial material demonstrates >98% purity with appropriate lipidation and folding
Frozen storage stability - Proper frozen storage at -20°C maintains stability of lipidated peptide structure
Extended stability profile - Long-acting formulation provides stable pharmacokinetics over 7-day dosing interval
Fibril formation at improper pH - Amylin analogs have inherent tendency to form amyloid fibrils, especially at neutral or alkaline pH. Solution should remain clear - any cloudiness, visible particles, or gel-like texture indicates fibril formation and the product should be discarded immediately
Aggregation or precipitation - Any visible particles, cloudiness, or color changes indicate protein degradation
Temperature excursions - Exposure to repeated freeze-thaw cycles or high temperatures can denature the peptide structure
pH-dependent stability - reconstitution concerns - Cagrilintide requires acidic formulation (pH 3.5-4.5) for optimal stability. Reconstitution with standard bacteriostatic water (pH 5.5-6) is acceptable for short-term use (<30 days refrigerated) but may cause gradual degradation. Higher pH environments can lead to deamidation and protein aggregation. Pharmaceutical formulations use pH ~4.0 for maximum stability
Not yet commercially available - Currently only available in clinical trials - FDA approval expected Q1 2026
What to expect
This timeline reflects what the clinical-trial literature reports at each study stage — research context for comparing studies, not a personal-results promise.
Gastrointestinal adaptation period, mild nausea possible during dose escalation
Early weight reduction becomes apparent (2-5%), appetite reduction noticeable
Significant weight reduction acceleration (10-15%), improved satiety signals
Peak efficacy achieved (15-23% weight reduction), sustained weight reduction maintenance with continued therapy
Safety notes
This section summarizes cagrilintide's regulatory status and handling notes — reference context drawn from the clinical-trial literature for laboratory researchers, not medical guidance; it remains unapproved for human use.
- Most common side effects are gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) during initial weeks
- Only 57.3% of patients achieved maximum 2.4 mg dose in REDEFINE 1 trial
- Formulation must be maintained at acidic pH (3.5-4.5) to prevent fibril formation and deamidation
- Not yet FDA-approved; FDA approval expected Q1 2026
- Anti-cagrilintide antibodies develop in 46-73% of patients but do not affect efficacy
- No clinically significant QT prolongation observed in thorough QT studies
Regulatory status
- Not approved by the FDA for any indication.
- Supplied and described for laboratory research use only — not for human or veterinary use.
Community data
Community Insights
Based on data the community reported. Not clinical proof.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cagrilintide?
Cagrilintide (AM833) is a lab-made, long-acting lipidated analog of amylin, a natural hormone. It acts as a dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist and is one of the most heavily studied compounds in current metabolic research, often examined alongside semaglutide in the combination known as CagriSema. Lux BioPure supplies research-grade cagrilintide strictly for laboratory study, not for use in people or animals.
What class of compound is cagrilintide?
Cagrilintide is classified as a long-acting amylin receptor agonist — specifically a lipidated amylin analog that also engages calcitonin receptors. Its fatty-acid modification is part of what gives it a long duration of action. In the research literature the molecule is characterized by a molecular weight near 4,409 daltons and a 37-residue chain used to confirm a sample's identity.
How is cagrilintide reconstituted and handled for research use?
In the laboratory, bacteriostatic water is added slowly down the side of a cagrilintide vial, which is gently swirled rather than shaken. Because this amylin analog is prone to forming fibrils, the solution must stay clear — any cloudiness, particles, or gel-like texture signals fibril formation and the sample is discarded. It requires an acidic pH range, roughly 3.5–4.5, to stay stable.
How should cagrilintide be stored in the lab?
Lyophilized cagrilintide is best kept frozen at around -20°C and protected from light, which maintains the stability of its lipidated structure. Once reconstituted, the solution is refrigerated near 2–6°C, its clarity inspected before each use, and its acidic pH (about 3.5–4.5) maintained to limit deamidation and aggregation. Each vial is labeled for laboratory research use only.
Is cagrilintide legal to purchase for research in Canada?
Lux BioPure sells cagrilintide in Canada strictly as a research-use-only chemical for laboratory study — it is not for human or veterinary use and is not offered as a drug or supplement. Cagrilintide is not yet an approved medication; it remains an investigational compound characterized in clinical-trial research, and the research-grade material here is not a substitute for one.
References
22.7% weight reduction vs 2.4% placebo with CagriSema combination. Primary endpoints achieved with excellent safety profile.
View Study15.7% weight reduction and 73.5% achieved HbA1c ≤6.5% with CagriSema.
View StudyNo clinically relevant QTc prolongation at supratherapeutic doses, supporting cardiovascular safety profile.
View Study