Cagrilintide is a long-acting analogue of amylin, a hormone naturally released by the pancreas alongside insulin after meals. Amylin promotes satiety by signaling fullness to the brain through pathways distinct from GLP-1—offering a complementary approach to appetite control.

Unlike GLP-1 receptor agonists (like semaglutide), cagrilintide targets amylin and calcitonin receptors in the brainstem. This different mechanism may explain why combining cagrilintide with GLP-1 therapy (CagriSema) produces greater weight loss than either alone.

In the Phase 3 REDEFINE 1 trial, cagrilintide monotherapy achieved 11.8% average weight loss over 68 weeks—comparable to semaglutide but with a notably lower incidence of nausea and vomiting, making it a potential option for patients who don’t tolerate GLP-1 medications well.