At a glance
A long-acting amylin analogue investigated in appetite and weight research.
This profile separates the compound’s scientific background from specification-specific preparation and source schedules. Begin with the research findings and limitations, then select the formulation you want to examine.
How it works
Potential benefits & side effects
Interpret each outcome in the context of the study population, formulation and evidence type. Research findings do not establish a personal treatment outcome.
Potential benefits & research findings
Weight and metabolic outcomes are central to the cited trials. Findings from cagrilintide alone and from a combination regimen should be read separately.[4][5][12]
Read the original publications to see the measured endpoints, comparator, duration and uncertainty. Mechanistic plausibility and a favorable experimental result are different from demonstrated clinical benefit.
Side effects & evidence limitations
Interpret the reported adverse effects together with the study population, route and observation period. Small or short studies can miss uncommon and delayed harms. Evidence from a related compound does not establish the safety of Cagrilintide.
Source-reported adverse effects and cautions
Sources are available for independent reading. Individual claims and research schedules have not yet undergone an independent clinical review by Pep Science.
- Editorial responsibility
- Pep Science editorial desk
- Last independent review
- Not yet recorded
SPECIFICATIONS & SOURCE SCHEDULES
Explore a vial size
Select the exact formulation. Vial content, target dose and prepared concentration are different measurements.
Showing 5 mg · 1 source tables
Standard / Gradual Approach (3 mL = ~1.67 mg/mL)
| Week/Phase | Weekly Dose (mg) | Units (per injection) | Volume (mL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | 0.6 mg | 36 units | 0.36 mL |
| Weeks 3–4 | 1.2 mg | 72 units | 0.72 mL |
| Weeks 5–6 | 2.4 mg | 144 units | 1.44 mL |
| Weeks 7–16 (Maintenance) | 4.5 mg | 270 units | 2.70 mL |
Route: Subcutaneous injection. Frequency: Once weekly on a consistent day. Note: Doses above 1.0 mL (100 units) require a 3 mL syringe with an appropriate subcutaneous needle (e.g., 25–27G, ½–⅝ inch) rather than a standard U‑100 insulin syringe. For lower starting doses (≤72 units), a U‑100 insulin syringe provides excellent accuracy.
Additional schedule context & duration
Concise summary of the once‑weekly regimen.
- Goal: Support satiety, reduce food intake, and promote weight management over time[2][4].
- Schedule: Weekly subcutaneous injections for 12–16 weeks (or longer as appropriate).
- Dose Range: 0.6–4.5 mg weekly with gradual titration every 2 weeks.
- Reconstitution: 3.0 mL per 5 mg vial (~1.67 mg/mL) for practical volume measurements.
- Storage: Lyophilized frozen; reconstituted refrigerated; avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles.
Suggested weekly titration approach based on clinical trial designs[1][6].
- Start: 0.6 mg weekly for the first 2 weeks to assess tolerability.
- Escalate: Double the dose every 2 weeks (0.6 → 1.2 → 2.4 → 4.5 mg) as tolerated.
- Target: 4.5 mg weekly by Weeks 7–8; maintain at this dose.
- Frequency: Once per week (subcutaneous) on the same day each week.
- Timing: Any consistent time; rotate injection sites.
Preparation
Reconstitution Steps
- Draw 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe.
- Inject slowly down the vial wall; avoid foaming or vigorous agitation.
- Gently swirl or roll until fully dissolved (do not shake).
- Label with date and concentration; refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F), protected from light.
- Use within 30 days of reconstitution; discard if cloudy or particulate matter appears.
Storage Instructions
Proper storage preserves peptide integrity and potency.
- Lyophilized: Store at −20 °C (−4 °F) in dry, dark conditions; minimize moisture exposure.
- Reconstituted: Refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F); use within 30 days and avoid freeze–thaw cycles.
- Allow vials to reach room temperature before opening to reduce condensation uptake.
Injection Technique
General subcutaneous guidance from clinical best‑practice resources[13][14].
- Clean the vial stopper and skin with alcohol; allow to air dry completely.
- Pinch a skinfold; insert the needle at 45–90° into subcutaneous tissue[13].
- Do not aspirate for subcutaneous injections; inject slowly and steadily.
- Hold for 5–10 seconds before withdrawing the needle to ensure complete delivery.
- Rotate sites systematically (abdomen, thighs, upper arms) each week to avoid lipohypertrophy[14].
Materials & quantity planning
Source materials checklist · 5 mg
Plan based on an 8–16 week weekly protocol with gradual titration.
-
Peptide Vials (Cagrilintide, 5 mg each):
- 8 weeks ≈ 4 vials (17.4 mg total)
- 12 weeks ≈ 8 vials (35.4 mg total)
- 16 weeks ≈ 11 vials (53.4 mg total)
-
Syringes:
- Weeks 1–4 (doses ≤72 units): U‑100 insulin syringes work well
- Weeks 5+ (doses >100 units): 3 mL syringes with 25–27G subcutaneous needles
- Per week: 1 syringe
- 8 weeks: 8 syringes
- 12 weeks: 12 syringes
- 16 weeks: 16 syringes
-
Bacteriostatic Water (10 mL bottles): Use 3.0 mL per vial for reconstitution.
- 8 weeks (4 vials): 12 mL → 2 × 10 mL bottles
- 12 weeks (8 vials): 24 mL → 3 × 10 mL bottles
- 16 weeks (11 vials): 33 mL → 4 × 10 mL bottles
-
Alcohol Swabs: One for the vial stopper + one for the injection site each week.
- Per week: 2 swabs
- 8 weeks: 16 swabs
- 12 weeks: 24 swabs
- 16 weeks: 32 swabs → recommend 1 × 100‑count box
Calculate a phased quantity
Enter each finite phase from the schedule you are studying. Open-ended phases need an explicit duration. Calculation uses 5 mg per vial and 3 mL per vial.
Complete each phase to calculate totals.
Quantity estimates exclude preparation losses and expiry. Follow the formulation’s handling and disposal requirements.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
References & further reading
Original publications and source documents cited across this product’s variants. A listed source is not an independent endorsement of a dosing schedule.
- 01
Research publication
The Lancet (2021) — Once‑weekly cagrilintide for weight management: phase 2 dose‑finding trial (Lau et al.) (opens in a new tab)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Back to overview ↑ - 02
Research publication
Int J Mol Sci (2024) — Amylin, another important neuroendocrine hormone for treatment of diabesity (opens in a new tab)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Back to overview ↑ - 03
Research publication
PMC (2022) — Mediators of amylin action in metabolic control (opens in a new tab)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Back to overview ↑ - 04
Source document
The Lancet (2021) — Cagrilintide phase 2 trial: 10.8% weight loss at 4.5 mg dose over 26 weeks (opens in a new tab)www.sciencedirect.com
Back to overview ↑ - 06
Research publication
The Lancet (2021) — Cagrilintide + semaglutide phase 1b trial: safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (Enebo et al.) (opens in a new tab)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Back to overview ↑ - 08
Research publication
Brain Res Rev (2005) — Pancreatic amylin as a centrally acting satiating hormone (opens in a new tab)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Back to overview ↑ - 09
Research publication
PMC (2006) — Pancreatic signals controlling food intake: insulin, glucagon, and amylin (opens in a new tab)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Back to overview ↑ - 10
Research publication
PMC (2016) — Amylin‑mediated control of glycemia, energy balance, and cognition (opens in a new tab)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Back to overview ↑ - 11
Research publication
PMC (2024) — Clinical pharmacokinetics of semaglutide: systematic review (includes cagrilintide PK data) (opens in a new tab)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Back to overview ↑ - 12
Research publication
N Engl J Med (2025) — REDEFINE 2: Cagrilintide–semaglutide in adults with overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes (opens in a new tab)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Back to overview ↑ - 13
Public health resource
CDC — Vaccine administration: subcutaneous injection technique and site guidance (opens in a new tab)www.cdc.gov
Back to overview ↑ - 14
Public health resource
CDC (PDF) — You Call the Shots: subcutaneous injection diagram and best practices (opens in a new tab)www.cdc.gov
Back to overview ↑ - 15
Research publication
PMC (2019) — Subcutaneous drug delivery: pharmacologic considerations and techniques (opens in a new tab)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Back to overview ↑ - 17
Research publication
The Lancet (2023) — Efficacy and safety of CagriSema in type 2 diabetes: phase 2 trial (Frias et al.) (opens in a new tab)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Back to overview ↑ - 18
Research publication
PMC (2024) — Efficacy and safety of cagrilintide and CagriSema: systematic review and meta‑analysis (opens in a new tab)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Back to overview ↑
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Related topics are not interchangeable compounds or formulations.