What Is Cagrilintide?
Cagrilintide is a long-acting amylin analogue developed by Novo Nordisk. It is a synthetic peptide designed to mimic and extend the activity of amylin, a hormone co-secreted with insulin by pancreatic beta cells in response to meals. Amylin plays an important role in postprandial glucose regulation, gastric emptying, and satiety signalling. Cagrilintide was engineered with modifications to prolong its half-life to approximately 7 days, making it suitable for once-weekly administration in clinical research contexts.
Mechanism of Action
Cagrilintide acts as an agonist at amylin receptors, which are found primarily in the area postrema and nucleus tractus solitarius of the brainstem. Amylin receptor activation produces several metabolic effects: slowing of gastric emptying (which reduces postprandial glucose excursions), suppression of glucagon secretion from pancreatic alpha cells, and induction of satiety via central nervous system signalling. These effects are complementary to those of GLP-1 receptor agonists, which has driven significant interest in combination approaches.
Research Interest
Cagrilintide has attracted substantial attention in metabolic disease research, particularly in the context of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Its combination with semaglutide (a GLP-1 receptor agonist), studied under the investigational name CagriSema, has been the subject of Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials. Dual amylin/GLP-1 receptor agonism represents one of the most actively researched frontiers in cardiometabolic pharmacology, with published data suggesting additive or potentially synergistic effects on weight reduction compared to GLP-1 agonism alone.
Research Applications
Research areas for cagrilintide include amylin receptor pharmacology, the gut-brain axis in appetite regulation, postprandial glycaemic control mechanisms, cardiometabolic risk reduction, and combination incretin/amylin therapy models. The compound is of particular interest to researchers studying next-generation approaches to metabolic disease beyond GLP-1 agonism.
Storage and Sourcing
Cagrilintide is supplied in lyophilised form. Store at -20°C for long-term stability. Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water according to standard peptide protocols. Peptifly supplies Cagrilintide in 10mg vials, independently tested for 99%+ purity, dispatched from EU warehouses with temperature-controlled packaging. Browse at peptifly.com/shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between amylin and cagrilintide?
Native amylin has a very short half-life and limited pharmaceutical utility. Cagrilintide is engineered with amino acid substitutions and a fatty acid chain for albumin binding, extending its half-life to approximately 7 days for once-weekly research dosing.
What is CagriSema?
CagriSema is the investigational combination of cagrilintide (amylin analogue) and semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist), being studied for its additive effects on weight reduction and metabolic parameters.
Where can I buy Cagrilintide in Europe?
Peptifly supplies Cagrilintide 10mg vials with EU dispatch and independent purity verification. Order at peptifly.com/shop.
Disclaimer: All peptides sold by Peptifly are strictly for research and laboratory use only. This article is for informational purposes only.