CagriSema is an investigational once-weekly injection combining cagrilintide and semaglutide. Learn what it is, how it works, and whether it's FDA-approved.
CagriSema is an investigational, once-weekly injectable medication that combines cagrilintide, a long-acting amylin analog, with semaglutide, the GLP-1 receptor agonist used in Ozempic and Wegovy. Novo Nordisk is developing it to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. CagriSema is not approved by the FDA, so it is not legally available by prescription in the United States.
What Is CagriSema Made Of?
CagriSema is not a brand-new molecule. It is a fixed-dose combination of two drugs that each act on a different satiety hormone pathway.
- Cagrilintide mimics amylin, a hormone the pancreas releases alongside insulin. Amylin slows stomach emptying and signals fullness to the brain.
- Semaglutide mimics glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a gut hormone that reduces appetite, slows digestion, and improves blood sugar control.
In clinical trials, the two drugs were combined in a 1:1 ratio, most often at 2.4 mg of cagrilintide plus 2.4 mg of semaglutide. Semaglutide is already approved on its own; cagrilintide is not part of any approved product yet.
What Is CagriSema Used For?
Researchers are studying CagriSema for two main purposes, and both are still investigational.
- Chronic weight management in adults with obesity, or with overweight plus at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure or sleep apnea.
- Type 2 diabetes, where the goal is better blood sugar control alongside weight loss.
Because no version is approved, the question of what CagriSema is used for is still answered by research trials rather than by a prescription label. Any real-world use today would happen inside a clinical trial or through an unregulated compounded product. Neither route has FDA-reviewed dosing, safety data, or quality checks for this specific combination.
How Well Does CagriSema Work?
The headline result comes from REDEFINE-1, a phase 3 trial in adults with obesity or overweight who did not have diabetes. After 68 weeks of treatment:
- CagriSema produced an average weight loss of about 22.7%.
- Semaglutide 2.4 mg produced about 11.8%.
- Placebo produced about 2.1%.
The trial met its primary endpoint, but the result landed below the roughly 25% weight loss Novo Nordisk had publicly targeted. CagriSema outperformed semaglutide alone in that study, which is the strongest evidence so far that adding an amylin analog matters.
In REDEFINE-2, which enrolled people with type 2 diabetes, CagriSema lowered A1c more than semaglutide 1 mg by itself. Full results from the broader REDEFINE program are still being published, so the final picture is not complete.
How Does CagriSema Compare With Wegovy and Zepbound?
Every medication below is a once-weekly injection except Saxenda, which is daily. None of these numbers come from head-to-head trials.
| Medication | Active ingredient(s) | FDA status | Average weight loss in trials |
|---|---|---|---|
| CagriSema | Cagrilintide + semaglutide | Investigational, not approved | About 22.7% at 68 weeks (REDEFINE-1) |
| Wegovy | Semaglutide 2.4 mg | Approved for chronic weight management | About 15% at 68 weeks (STEP-1) |
| Zepbound | Tirzepatide | Approved for chronic weight management | About 21% at 72 weeks (SURMOUNT-1) |
| Saxenda | Liraglutide 3.0 mg | Approved for chronic weight management | About 8% at 56 weeks |
Cross-trial comparisons are rough guides at best. Different studies enroll different patients, use different doses, and measure weight at different time points, so 22.7% and 21% cannot be treated as a direct contest between two drugs.
How Is CagriSema Dosed and Given?
CagriSema is given as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection, usually into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. In trials, participants started at a low dose and stepped up every four weeks to limit gastrointestinal side effects, with 2.4 mg/2.4 mg as the target dose.
The investigational product ships as a prefilled, multi-dose pen. Nothing needs to be mixed or reconstituted, so if you have ever looked up what is bacteriostatic water for injection used for, that step does not apply to CagriSema.
What Are the Side Effects and Safety Concerns?
Because cagrilintide and semaglutide act on the same digestive and appetite systems, the side effect profile looks similar to other GLP-1 medications.
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain, which are the most common complaints
- Injection-site reactions and fatigue
- Gallbladder disease and pancreatitis
- Dehydration-related kidney injury from persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- Low blood sugar when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas
- Loss of lean muscle mass with rapid weight loss
Drugs in this class carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors observed in rodents, and they are contraindicated in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2. They are also not recommended during pregnancy. Anyone considering a GLP-1 medication should review their health history with a healthcare professional before starting.
Is CagriSema Available Right Now?
No. CagriSema has no FDA approval and no approved version in any country. Novo Nordisk has said it will run additional trials before filing for approval, and a regulatory decision is not expected until that data is available.
Be cautious with any website selling "CagriSema" pens or powders. This combination is not a research chemical, and products marketed that way have no verified identity, dose, or sterility.
Searches such as what is cjc-1295 ipamorelin and what is aod 9604 used for point to a different world of laboratory peptides that are also not approved drugs. Phrases like bac water what is it and the question What is the difference between KPV and BPC-157? usually belong to that same research-only space. It is easy to confuse the categories online, especially when sellers use similar wording for very different compounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CagriSema FDA-approved?
No. CagriSema is still an investigational drug, and the FDA has not approved it for weight management, type 2 diabetes, or any other use. Novo Nordisk plans additional phase 3 trials before submitting for approval, so no legal prescription version exists in the United States right now.
How much weight can you lose on CagriSema?
In the REDEFINE-1 trial, participants lost an average of about 22.7% of their body weight after 68 weeks, compared with 11.8% on semaglutide 2.4 mg and 2.1% on placebo. Individual results varied widely, and some participants lost considerably more or less than the average. No approved dose exists yet, so those figures come from a research setting only.
What is the difference between CagriSema and Wegovy?
Wegovy contains semaglutide alone and is FDA-approved for chronic weight management in eligible adults and adolescents. CagriSema combines semaglutide with cagrilintide, an amylin analog that works through a separate appetite pathway, and it remains investigational. The two-drug combination produced greater average weight loss than semaglutide alone in the REDEFINE-1 trial.
This page provides educational research information and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.