Amycretin vs Cagrilintide
Comprehensive side-by-side comparison of mechanisms, dosing, side effects, and research
Also: Zenagamtide, NNC0487-0111
Amycretin is Novo Nordisk's single-molecule agonist of both the GLP-1 and amylin receptors, developed as a once-weekly injection and a once-daily pill. Early trials produced some of the biggest weight-loss numbers seen with any obesity drug so far, and the injectable version entered phase 3 (the AMAZE program) in 2026. It is not approved anywhere, and everything known about it comes from company-run trials of up to 36 weeks.
Also: AM833, NN9838
Cagrilintide (also called AM833) is a long-acting synthetic analog of amylin, the gut-brain satiety hormone co-secreted with insulin by pancreatic beta cells. It is an investigational once-weekly injectable being developed by Novo Nordisk for obesity, most prominently as the amylin half of CagriSema (cagrilintide plus semaglutide). It is not yet approved as a standalone drug, but it has cleared phase 2 trials and is in late-stage development.
Key Comparison Insights
- Both peptides belong to the Weight Loss category, suggesting similar primary applications.
Detailed Comparison
| Attribute | Amycretin | Cagrilintide |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Weight Loss | Weight Loss |
| FDA Status | Not FDA Approved | Not FDA Approved |
| Clinical Status | Pre I II III IV FDA | Pre I II III IV FDA |
| Mechanism of Action | Amycretin hits two appetite systems at once. The GLP-1 side slows stomach emptying, boosts insulin release after meals, and dampens appetite in the brain, the same biology behind semaglutide. The amylin side mimics a hormone your pancreas releases alongside insulin, which acts on the brainstem to make you feel full sooner and also curbs glucagon after eating. Novo combined these two signals in one molecule rather than mixing two drugs (which is what its CagriSema combination does). The bet is that the two pathways add together, giving more weight loss than either alone. That idea fits the early data, but it has not yet been tested head-to-head against semaglutide or tirzepatide in a large trial. | Cagrilintide is a non-selective agonist of the amylin and calcitonin receptor family. It activates amylin receptors (which are calcitonin receptors paired with RAMP accessory proteins) to signal satiety in the brain, slow gastric emptying, and blunt the post-meal glucagon rise. Mechanistic work in mice shows it reduces body weight mainly through amylin receptors AMY1R and AMY3R acting in the hindbrain, with the area postrema as a key entry point and downstream signaling through the nucleus of the solitary tract and parabrachial nucleus. Notably, weight loss in those studies persisted even after the acute appetite-suppressing effect faded, hinting at effects on energy balance beyond simple food-intake reduction. Chemically it is built on a pramlintide-like 37-amino-acid backbone with substitutions and a fatty-diacid chain attached to extend its half-life to roughly a week, enabling once-weekly dosing. |
| Common Dosing | Trial doses of 1.25-40 mg once weekly (injection) Once weekly (injection) or once daily (tablet) | 2.4 mg weekly Once weekly |
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection once weekly, or oral tablet once daily (separate formulations) | Subcutaneous injection once weekly |
| Typical Duration | 20-36 weeks in published trials; phase 3 runs longer | Long-term / chronic use expected |
| Best Time to Take | Same day each week (injection); trial protocols set timing for the tablet | Any consistent time weekly |
Possible Side Effects May vary by individual |
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| Research Summary | Two early trials were published in The Lancet in June 2025. In the subcutaneous phase 1b/2a trial (125 adults with overweight or obesity), the estimated weight loss assuming full adherence was 24.3% at 60 mg over 36 weeks and 22.0% at 20 mg over 36 weeks, versus roughly flat weight on placebo, with no plateau by the end of treatment. A separate phase 1 trial of the oral tablet (144 people, 12 weeks) showed up to 13.1% loss at the highest dose. In November 2025 Novo reported a 36-week phase 2 trial in 448 adults with type 2 diabetes: up to 14.5% weight loss with weekly injections (2.6% on placebo), up to 10.1% with the daily pill, and HbA1c drops of up to 1.8 points. Side effects were mostly gastrointestinal, dose-related, and mild to moderate. Novo moved both forms into phase 3; AMAZE 1 (weekly injection at 1.25, 5, 20 or 40 mg versus placebo, about 1,150 people without diabetes) is registered as NCT07339423 with completion expected in 2029. Honest caveats: the headline numbers come from small trials using an efficacy estimand that assumes everyone stayed on drug, and long-term safety is unknown. | Cagrilintide has real human data, which sets it apart from most peptides in this category. In a 2021 Lancet phase 2 dose-finding trial (Lau et al.), once-weekly cagrilintide at 4.5 mg produced about 10.8% mean body weight loss over 26 weeks, beating both placebo (around 3%) and liraglutide 3.0 mg (around 9%), establishing that amylin agonism alone can drive clinically meaningful weight loss. Its bigger story is combination therapy: paired with semaglutide as CagriSema, it advanced into phase 3 REDEFINE trials for obesity and type 2 diabetes, with reported weight loss in the low 20% range, though final results came in somewhat below the most optimistic expectations. Side effects are dominated by the expected gastrointestinal effects (nausea, vomiting) common to gut-hormone drugs. As of 2026 cagrilintide is investigational and not FDA-approved on its own. The evidence is genuinely human and well-controlled here, which is rare, but it is still a drug under regulatory review rather than an approved therapy. |
Frequently Asked Questions: Amycretin vs Cagrilintide
What is the difference between Amycretin and Cagrilintide?
Amycretin is a weight loss peptide that amycretin is novo nordisk's single-molecule agonist of both the glp-1 and amylin receptors, developed as a once-weekly injection and a once-daily pill. early trials produced some of the biggest weight-loss numbers seen with any obesity drug so far, and the injectable version entered phase 3 (the amaze program) in 2026. it is not approved anywhere, and everything known about it comes from company-run trials of up to 36 weeks. Cagrilintide is a weight loss peptide that cagrilintide (also called am833) is a long-acting synthetic analog of amylin, the gut-brain satiety hormone co-secreted with insulin by pancreatic beta cells. it is an investigational once-weekly injectable being developed by novo nordisk for obesity, most prominently as the amylin half of cagrisema (cagrilintide plus semaglutide). it is not yet approved as a standalone drug, but it has cleared phase 2 trials and is in late-stage development. The main differences lie in their mechanisms of action and clinical applications.
Which is better, Amycretin or Cagrilintide?
Neither is universally "better" - the choice depends on your specific goals. Amycretin is typically used for weight loss purposes, while Cagrilintide is used for weight loss. Always consult with a healthcare provider to determine which may be appropriate for your situation.
Can Amycretin and Cagrilintide be used together?
Some peptide protocols combine multiple compounds for synergistic effects. However, using Amycretin and Cagrilintide together should only be considered under medical supervision, as both compounds have their own side effect profiles and potential interactions. Research on their combined use may be limited.