Unlike GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide (Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro), which target hormones released from the gut, cagrilintide works through a completely different pathway. It mimics the action of amylin, a hormone that plays a distinct but complementary role in appetite control and energy regulation. This difference in mechanism is precisely why researchers became so interested in combining cagrilintide with GLP-1 therapy.
On its own, cagrilintide showed meaningful weight loss in Phase 2 clinical trials. But its real promise emerged when it was paired with semaglutide — producing results that neither drug could achieve alone. That combination, known as CagriSema, became one of the most closely watched developments in obesity pharmacology.
Phase | Weeks | Cagrilintide Dose | Purpose |
Initiation | Weeks 1-4 | 0.25 mg/week | GI adaptation; lowest tolerated dose |
Step 2 | Weeks 5-8 | 0.5 mg/week | Dose escalation |
Step 3 | Weeks 9-12 | 1.0 mg/week | GI side effects often peak here |
Step 4 | Weeks 13-16 | 1.7 mg/week | Approaching maintenance |
Maintenance | Weeks 17+ | 2.4 mg/week | Target dose used in late-stage study protocols |
Each step lasts 4 weeks. Researchers commonly hold a step longer if GI side effects are not tolerated rather than skip ahead. This cagrilintide-only table does not include semaglutide.
