New Weight Loss Drug CagriSema Shows Impressive Results in Clinical Trials
CagriSema is a once-weekly injection of semaglutide and cagrilintide. Clinical trial results for CagriSema showed significant improvements in A1C, weight loss, and time in range, marking it as a promising new type 2 diabetes and weight management treatment.
Developed by Novo Nordisk, CagriSema is a combination medication of cagrilintide and the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide.
You may be familiar with semaglutide, known by its brand name Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight management. Cagrilinitide mimics the hormone amylin, which is produced by the pancreas. Together with insulin, amylin makes people feel satiated or full after eating a meal.
CagriSema has been shown to work for weight loss and lowering blood sugar in multiple clinical trials, indicating it could be a potential new treatment for type 2 diabetes and weight management.
What the research says
Results from a recent phase 3 trial called REDEFINE 1, which included 3,417 people with overweight or obesity (without type 2 diabetes), showed that CagriSema led to almost 23% weight loss, surpassing cagrilintide and semaglutide alone, as well as the placebo group.
During the trial, participants were allowed to modify their dosing. Roughly 57% of people were on the highest CagriSema dose after 68 weeks compared to 83% on the highest dose with cagrilintide and 70% on semaglutide.
REDEFINE 1 is still ongoing. Novo's second phase 3 trial, REDEFINE 2, is studying the effect of the drug in adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity. Results from this trial are expected in the first half of 2025.
In an earlier phase 2 clinical trial, CagriSema showed promise as a long-lasting treatment for type 2 diabetes given via a once-weekly injection. During the trial, researchers measured participants’ A1C, weight, and time in range before starting treatment, and then again at the 32-week mark. Doses were maintained at the highest level for an additional 16 weeks. Those randomly assigned to the CagriSema group saw an A1C reduction of 2.2%, weight loss of 16%, and time in range improvements of 43%.
| Measure | CagriSema | Semaglutide | Cagrilinitide |
| Number of participants | 31 | 31 | 30 |
| Average decrease in A1C | 2.2% | 1.8% | 0.9% |
| Percentage of participants with an A1C ≤ 6.5% | 75% | 48% | 17% |
| Average decrease in body weight | 15.6% | 5.1% | 8.1% |
| Average increase in time in range | 43% | 43.6% | 14.8% |
Similar to GLP-1 receptor drugs, participants taking CagriSema reported mild to moderate side effects, which were mainly gastrointestinal (including nausea and vomiting) and diminished over time. There were no instances of level 2 (less than 54 mg/dL) or level 3 hypoglycemia (severe low blood sugar requiring the assistance of others).
CagriSema is still in the research phase and has not yet been approved by the FDA. Several trials are currently recruiting, including this one for people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease and another one comparing CagriSema and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for type 2 diabetes.
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