Cagrilintide vs Semaglutide
vs Retatrutide
An amylin analogue and two incretin-pathway peptides — one designed to stack with the others rather than compete. This comparison covers mechanisms, weight loss data, half-lives, and why Cagrilintide is usually researched as a combination partner (CagriSema) rather than a standalone alternative.
Cagrilintide
Long-acting amylin analogue. Promotes satiety via a pathway independent of GLP-1. Best paired with a GLP-1 agonist.
Shop Cagrilintide →Semaglutide
GLP-1 mono-agonist. Widest human research dataset of any agent in this class. Up to 15% weight loss at 68 weeks alone.
Shop Semaglutide →Retatrutide
Triple agonist (GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon). Highest single-agent weight loss reported: 24.2% at 48 weeks.
Shop Retatrutide →Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Cagrilintide | Semaglutide | Retatrutide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receptor targets | Amylin (AMY) | GLP-1 | GLP-1 + GIP + Glucagon |
| Mechanism type | Amylin analogue | Mono-agonist | Triple agonist |
| Peak weight loss (trials) | ~11% alone; ~20% in CagriSema (68 wks) | ~15% at 68 wks (STEP) | ~24.2% at 48 wks (TRIUMPH) |
| Half-life | ~7-8 days | ~168 hrs (7 days) | ~6 days |
| Dosing frequency | Once weekly | Once weekly | Once weekly |
| FDA approval | No (Phase 3, as CagriSema) | Yes (Ozempic/Wegovy) | No (Phase 3) |
| Primary appetite mechanism | Central amylin satiety signalling | Hypothalamic GLP-1 signalling | GLP-1 + GIP appetite suppression |
| Gastric emptying effect | Significant slowing | Significant slowing | Significant slowing |
| Stacking role | Combination partner (adds to GLP-1) | Foundation of most stacks | Strongest standalone option |
| Best for | Adding to an existing GLP-1 protocol | Entry-level, well-characterised research | Maximum monotherapy weight reduction |
Mechanism Deep Dive
Cagrilintide — Amylin Analogue
Cagrilintide activates central amylin receptors, a pathway distinct from GLP-1 or GIP. Amylin is co-secreted with insulin and naturally regulates satiety, gastric emptying, and glucagon secretion. Because it works through a separate receptor system, its effects are additive rather than redundant when combined with a GLP-1 agonist — the rationale behind the CagriSema combination.
Shop Cagrilintide →Semaglutide — GLP-1 Only
Semaglutide activates the GLP-1 receptor, slowing gastric emptying, suppressing appetite via hypothalamic signalling, and improving postprandial glucose disposal. Its C18 fatty diacid conjugate enables albumin binding for a ~7-day half-life. The STEP trials established it as the benchmark GLP-1 peptide with the broadest human dataset of any agent in this class.
Shop Semaglutide →Retatrutide — Triple Agonist
Retatrutide adds glucagon receptor agonism on top of GIP and GLP-1 — the glucagon component drives hepatic fatty acid oxidation and thermogenesis, increasing energy expenditure independently of appetite. Phase 2 TRIUMPH data shows 24.2% weight loss at 48 weeks, the highest single-agent result reported to date.
Shop Retatrutide →Which Peptide Wins For Each Goal?
Maximum monotherapy weight loss
Retatrutide
Triple agonism drives the highest documented single-agent weight reduction in clinical trials (24.2% at 48 weeks).
Best human clinical data
Semaglutide
Largest Phase 3 dataset of any GLP-1 peptide — STEP 1–5 plus cardiovascular outcome data (SUSTAIN-6, SELECT).
Stacking with an existing GLP-1 protocol
Cagrilintide
Its amylin mechanism doesn't compete with GLP-1 receptor activity, so it adds effect rather than duplicating it — the basis of the CagriSema stack.
Combined amylin + GLP-1 research (CagriSema)
Cagrilintide + Semaglutide
REDEFINE Phase 3 data shows ~20% weight loss at 68 weeks from the combination, exceeding semaglutide alone.
Energy expenditure / thermogenesis
Retatrutide
Glucagon receptor agonism increases basal metabolic rate through hepatic thermogenesis — not achievable with amylin or GLP-1 alone.
First-line research with the most established profile
Semaglutide
Most well-characterised pharmacology, widest dose range studied, and an established safety profile from FDA-approved clinical use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Cagrilintide and Semaglutide?
Cagrilintide is a long-acting amylin analogue that promotes satiety and slows gastric emptying through amylin receptors. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that works through a different, complementary pathway. Because the two mechanisms don't overlap, they are commonly researched together as the CagriSema combination.
What is CagriSema and how much weight loss does it produce?
CagriSema pairs Cagrilintide with Semaglutide 2.4mg. Phase 3 REDEFINE trial data showed approximately 20% weight loss at 68 weeks — exceeding either agent alone — by combining amylin and GLP-1 pathways simultaneously.
Is Cagrilintide or Retatrutide stronger for weight loss?
As monotherapy, Retatrutide's triple agonism (GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon) produces the largest single-agent weight loss reported to date (up to 24.2% at 48 weeks in Phase 2 data). Cagrilintide alone is milder, but its amylin mechanism is additive rather than competitive with incretin agonists, which is why it's studied as a combination partner rather than a standalone competitor to Retatrutide.
What is the half-life of Cagrilintide compared to Semaglutide and Retatrutide?
Cagrilintide: approximately 7-8 days. Semaglutide: approximately 7 days (168 hours). Retatrutide: approximately 6 days. All three are acylated/fatty-acid-conjugated for albumin binding, enabling once-weekly subcutaneous dosing.
Research use only. All products sold by JA Performance are strictly for laboratory and in vitro research purposes. Not for human consumption, medical use, or veterinary use.