CagriSema

CagriSema is a new weight loss injection that is still being tested in clinical trials. It combines 2 medications (cagrilintide and semaglutide) to help reduce hunger and help you feel full for longer. Early studies suggest it may lead to more weight loss than some existing injections.

In this guide, we explain what CagriSema is, how it works, and when it may be available in the UK.

CagriSema is a new medication containing the active ingredients cagrilintide and semaglutide (the same active ingredient in Wegovy). CagriSema is currently being studied to help people lose weight. Like other approved weight loss injections, it is taken as a weekly injection. It works to help you lose weight by lowering your appetite, making you feel fuller after eating.

What is CagriSema used for?

CagriSema is being developed to be used to support weight loss in adults who are overweight or obese. In studies, it is used with healthy eating and regular activity to help people lose weight over time.

What kind of medication is CagriSema?

CagriSema is a prescription-only once-weekly injection. The injection goes under the skin, not into a vein.

What are the active ingredients?

CagriSema contains:

• semaglutide, which helps lower appetite
• cagrilintide, which helps you feel full for longer

Together, they help reduce how much you want to eat.

Who makes CagriSema?

CagriSema is made by Novo Nordisk. This company develops medicines for weight loss and diabetes, and also makes Wegovy and Ozempic.

The active ingredients work together to help you lose weight by making you feel less hungry overall and fuller after you eat.

Semaglutide mimics GLP-1, and cagrilintide mimics amylin. Both help you feel fuller for longer and slow digestion, except they signal fullness to different parts of the brain, helping to lower your appetite and control your cravings. This can support steady weight loss over time.

How long does CagriSema take to work?

Some people may notice changes in appetite as treatment continues. Weight loss usually happens slowly over several months. Results can vary from person to person, and it may take time for your body to adjust as the dose increases.

How effective is CagriSema?

In one large study called REDEFINE 1, people using CagriSema 2.4mg/2.4mg lost 20% of their starting weight after 68 weeks, compared with patients who lost 3% of their starting weight on a placebo. However, studies are still ongoing.

In clinical trials, CagriSema is taken as a once-weekly injection under the skin via a pen device to self-inject.

When should you take CagriSema?

CagriSema can be taken once a week, on the same day each week. You can take it at any time of day.

Not all information on taking Cagrisema is available yet, as it’s still undergoing clinical trials, but from other weight loss injections, we would expect that it:

• can be taken with or without food
• is injected into the stomach, thigh, or upper arm
• works best when taken on the same day

How much CagriSema should you take?

In clinical trials, the dose escalation period was 16 weeks before reaching a maintenance dose. We do not yet know what the weekly dosage schedule will look like, but the most recent trial studied a maintenance dose of cagrilintide and semaglutide 2.4mg.

What if I miss a dose of CagriSema?

It’s not yet known the exact guidance for missing a dose of Cagrisema, as it’s not been approved yet. However, in most cases, you would:

• take the missed dose as soon as you remember
• skip the missed dose if it is nearly time for the next one
• never take 2 doses at the same time

Always follow the advice given by your doctor.

What if I take too much CagriSema?

Taking more than your prescribed dose can increase the risk of side effects.

If this happens:

• do not take another dose
• contact a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist for advice
• get medical help if you feel unwell

In clinical trials, CagriSema doses are increased slowly over time. This helps your body get used to the medication and may reduce side effects. You take 1 injection each week.

What is the starting dose of CagriSema?

There is currently no starting dose for CagriSema approved. In clinical trials, the starting dose was 0.25mg, which was then increased over time. Official starting doses will be announced if the medication is approved.

What is the highest dose of CagriSema?

In studies, the highest dose was:

• 2.4mg of cagrilintide combined with 2.4mg of semaglutide once a week
• reached after gradual increases
• used to give the full treatment effect

Not everyone will need to reach this dose, and an official highest dose will be released if the treatment is approved.

Why might you be prescribed a specific dose?

Your dose is based on how your body reacts to the treatment. Some people need to stay on lower doses for longer.

A prescriber may adjust your dose if:

• you have side effects
• your body needs more time to adjust
• a higher dose does not suit you

Your safety should always come first.

CagriSema is not yet approved in the UK for prescription. It is still being tested in large clinical studies. This means you cannot request it from local or online pharmacies at the moment.

How long will it be until CagriSema is available in the UK?

The company that makes CagriSema filed for FDA approval in the US in December 2025. It’s not currently known when they will file for approval in the UK, and this process can take a year or more.

Will CagriSema be prescription only?

If CagriSema is approved, it will only be available with a prescription. This means you will need to speak to a doctor first. It is likely to be offered privately before any NHS access is decided.

Most people (around 80%) who used CagriSema in studies had mild or moderate side effects. These mainly affected the stomach and gut. Side effects were most common when starting treatment or increasing the dose and often improved as the body adjusted. These side effects are similar to those seen with other GLP-1 weight loss injections.

What are the common side effects of CagriSema?

The most common side effects affect digestion. These are similar to other weight loss injections.

Common side effects include:

• feeling sick
• being sick
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• stomach pain

Around 8 in 10 people using CagriSema reported 1 or more of these side effects at some point during treatment.

Are there uncommon or rare side effects?

More serious side effects were less common in studies, but they can happen.

Less common side effects include:

• side effects that need medical advice
• symptoms that do not improve over time

A small number of people stopped treatment because the side effects were too hard to manage.

How long do CagriSema side effects last?

How long side effects last can vary from person to person. In studies so far, most side effects have been mild or moderate and mainly linked to digestion. Researchers are still collecting safety data, so more information about how long side effects may last will become clearer if the treatment is approved.

What should you do if you get CagriSema side effects?

If you notice side effects, it is important to get advice from a doctor. We recommend:

• following the advice of your doctor, a nurse, or pharmacist about your dose
• getting medical help if symptoms become severe or worrying

It is too early to say if CagriSema is better than Mounjaro or Wegovy because it is still being trialled. Once clinical trials are completed and final data is provided, it will be easier to compare effectiveness. However, results can vary with all weight loss treatments, and CagriSema is not yet approved or available.

CagriSema vs Mounjaro

CagriSema and Mounjaro are both weekly injections used for weight loss, but they work in different ways. They use different hormone pathways to help control hunger and fullness, and Mounjaro also manages blood sugar. Both medications have shown similar results in studies, with Mounjaro being slightly more effective.

*Please note: CagriSema is still being tested, so direct comparisons are limited.

CagriSema vs Wegovy

CagriSema and Wegovy both contain semaglutide, but CagriSema also includes cagrilintide, which increases how full you feel after a meal. Because it targets more hunger pathways, Cagrisema may be more potent, but current data show that they have a similar effectiveness.

*Please note: CagriSema is still being tested, so direct comparisons are limited.

While early results for CagriSema look promising, it is not yet approved. However, Wegovy and Mounjaro are already approved and available, and are both effective weight loss treatments.

A Research Study to See How Well CagriSema Helps People With Excess Body Weight Lose Weight (REDEFINE 1), National Library of Medicine [accessed 17 February 2026]

Coadministered Cagrilintide and Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity, The New England Journal of Medicine [accessed 17 February 2026]

Data on Novo Nordisk experimental weight-loss drug show mostly mild side effects, Reuters [accessed 17 February 2026]

Novo Nordisk's experimental obesity drug CagriSema shows blood pressure benefits, Reuters [accessed 17 February 2026]

Mounjaro KwikPen 10mg solution for injection in pre-filled pen, emc [accessed 17 February 2026]

Novo Nordisk files for FDA approval of CagriSema, the first once-weekly combination of GLP‑1 and amylin analogues for weight management, Novo Nordisk [accessed 17 February 2026]

Wegovy 2.4 mg, FlexTouch solution for injection in pre-filled pen, emc [accessed 17 February 2026]