Cagrilintide vs Semaglutide: Dosage, Efficacy & Mechanism
A side-by-side, peer-reviewed comparison of Cagrilintide and Semaglutide — mechanism, typical research dose and titration, clinical-trial efficacy, administration, and reconstitution. For research and educational purposes only.
| Attribute | Cagrilintide | Semaglutide |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Weight Loss | Weight Loss |
| Mechanism of action | Cagrilintide is a synthetic 37-amino-acid amylin analogue with substitutions that resist enzymatic degradation and a C18 fatty-diacid linker that promotes albumin binding, yielding a terminal half-life of approximately 7–8 days and enabling fixed weekly… | Semaglutide is a 31-amino-acid synthetic analogue of human GLP-1 in which substitution at position 8 (alanine to α-aminoisobutyric acid) blocks DPP-4 enzymatic degradation and a C18 fatty-diacid linker at position 26 promotes reversible binding to serum… |
| Typical research dose | 0.6–4.5 mg once weekly (gradual titration over 4–6 weeks). | 0.25–2.4 mg once weekly SC (16-week titration to 2.4 mg maintenance) |
| Headline trial efficacy | Cagrilintide produced 8.5–10.2 cm reductions in waist circumference at higher doses in the Phase 2 trial, with parallel improvements in fasting glucose, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure . | Real-world cohort analyses confirm 10–13% average weight loss in clinical practice at 12 months, modestly below the STEP trial average — driven by lower titration completion rates and adherence. |
| Administration | Refer to guidelines | Refer to guidelines |
| Vial sizes | 5 mg, 10 mg | 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg |
| Storage | Lyophilized frozen; reconstituted refrigerated; avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles. | Lyophilized frozen at −20 °C (−4 °F); reconstituted refrigerated at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F); use within 28 days; avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Cagrilintide and Semaglutide?expand_more
Cagrilintide (weight loss) and Semaglutide (weight loss) differ in receptor target and mechanism. Cagrilintide is a synthetic 37-amino-acid amylin analogue with substitutions that resist enzymatic degradation and a C18 fatty-diacid linker that promotes albumin binding, yielding a terminal half-life of approximately 7–8 days and enabling fixed weekly… By contrast, semaglutide: Semaglutide is a 31-amino-acid synthetic analogue of human GLP-1 in which substitution at position 8 (alanine to α-aminoisobutyric acid) blocks DPP-4 enzymatic degradation and a C18 fatty-diacid linker at position 26 promotes reversible binding to serum…
How do the typical research doses of Cagrilintide and Semaglutide compare?expand_more
Cagrilintide is typically dosed at 0.6–4.5 mg once weekly (gradual titration over 4–6 weeks)., while Semaglutide is typically dosed at 0.25–2.4 mg once weekly SC (16-week titration to 2.4 mg maintenance). See each protocol for the full titration schedule.