Semaglutide vs Cagrilintide
Semaglutide is FDA-approved and rated 5/5 for evidence; Cagrilintide is not FDA-approved and rated 4/5. Semaglutide has more human evidence behind it. Both are used for metabolic & weight goals.
Often used together: This pairing is Novo Nordisk's CagriSema, tested in phase 3 (REDEFINE) and under FDA review. Research-vial combining is not the same as the studied fixed-dose product.
| Compare |  SemaglutideThe GLP-1 drug that started the modern weight-loss era: Ozempic and Wegovy. |  CagrilintideA long-acting amylin analog — the 'Cagri' half of CagriSema. |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Metabolic & Weight | Metabolic & Weight |
| Evidence | 5/5FDA-approved with large RCT programs (SUSTAIN, STEP, SELECT). SELECT showed a 20% reduction in major cardiovascular events in people with heart disease and overweight. | 4/5Phase 2 RCT of cagrilintide alone and large phase 3 RCTs (REDEFINE) with a cagrilintide-only arm. Not approved as a standalone drug. |
| FDA status | FDA-approved (Ozempic 2017, Wegovy 2021) | Not FDA-approved |
| WADA (sport) | Not prohibited | Not prohibited |
| Also known as | Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, NN9535, AMP-1 (SM) | NN9838, AM833, Cagri |
| How it works | A modified version of the natural hormone GLP-1 with a fatty-acid side chain that binds albumin, stretching its half-life to about a week. It lowers appetite through the brain, slows stomach emptying, and increases insulin release when blood sugar is high. | A 37-amino-acid modified amylin analog with a C18 fatty diacid for a long half-life. It activates amylin and calcitonin receptors in the brain, increasing fullness and slowing stomach emptying — a different pathway from GLP-1, which is why the two are combined. |
| Half-life | About 7 days (once-weekly dosing) | About 7–8 days (once-weekly dosing) |
| Commonly reported doses |
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| Route | Subcutaneous (abdomen, thigh, upper arm) | Subcutaneous |
| Good once mixed | ~28 days in the fridge | ~28 days in the fridge |
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| Lowest price per mg | $3.00 (10 mg vial, 40% off) | $4.20 (10 mg vial, 40% off) |
| Latest lab purity | 99.17% (lot SEM0001) | 99.84% (lot CAG0002) |
Want a third? Add another peptide. Doses are commonly reported ranges, not recommendations.