There are currently three weight loss injections available in the UK: Saxenda, Wegovy and Mounjaro. And Novo Nordisk, which makes Wegovy, is developing a new one called CagriSema. Could it be the next big weight loss drug?
Clinical trials are still going, so we can’t say just yet—though the early results we do have are promising. Here’s what we know so far about this new medicine.
What is CagriSema and how does it work?
Like weight loss injections that are already on the market, CagriSema works by making you feel full.
It’s a weekly injection that contains semaglutide, which is also the active ingredient in Wegovy. But CagriSema uses cagrilintide, too (hence the name, CagriSema).
So, the medicine brings on the effects of both ingredients; semaglutide acts like the hunger hormone GLP-1 while cagrilintide behaves like the hormone amylin. Both GLP-1 and amylin can make you feel full by slowing down your digestion and keeping your cravings at bay.
This dual action may explain why CagriSema seems to perform better than Wegovy, which only uses semaglutide.
Can you lose weight on CagriSema?
According to early clinical trial results—yes. Remember that CagriSema isn’t approved yet so we can’t say for sure how effective it is.
But here’s what we’ve seen in clinical research. In the phase III REDEFINE 1 trial, 3,400 people were given either placebo, semaglutide (Wegovy), cagrilintide or CagriSema (semaglutide and cagrilintide). After 68 weeks:
- Those on CagriSema lost 22.7% of their starting weight
- The Wegovy group lost 16.1%
- People on cagrilintide lost 11.8%
- And those taking placebo lost 2.3%
Not only does this suggest that CagriSema works well, but also that it could be more effective than Wegovy weight loss injections.
What are the side effects of CagriSema?
CagriSema side effects are similar to those of other weight loss injections. That is: in clinical research, symptoms were mostly related to the gut (because of how these medicines slow digestion).
Nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting were some of the symptoms reported in the trial. Mostly, side effects were mild or moderate and cleared up on their own.
Is CagriSema better than semaglutide?
From what we know so far, it does seem that CagriSema can support more weight loss than Wegovy.
This is probably because CagriSema brings on the effects of both semaglutide and cagrilintide. It’s basically two drugs in one.
Both ingredients work well enough in their own right. In the REDEFINE 1 trial, those on Wegovy lost 16.1% of their starting weight on average, whereas the cagrilintide group lost 11.8%. And semaglutide is showing to be even more effective at higher doses. In a new trial, a 7.2 mg dose helped participants lose an average of 20.7% of their body weight over 72 weeks.
So, by combining semaglutide and cagrilintide, it makes sense that CagriSema has a stronger effect than Wegovy (people on CagriSema lost 22.7% of their starting weight in the trial).
While this is all very exciting, remember that clinical research into CagriSema is still going on. That means that we still don’t know enough to confirm that it’s safe and effective.
When will CagriSema be available in the UK?
Before a regulator (in the UK, that’s the MHRA) can approve a medicine, it has to assess the results from clinical trials.
CagriSema’s phase III trials, which is the final stage of clinical research before approval, are due to finish at the end of 2025. Assuming everything goes smoothly, Novo Nordisk has said that they plan to submit CagriSema for approval in early 2026.
That means that it could be on the market as soon as late 2026.
Drug approvals usually take several months. There are a few factors that influence how long it takes, including how much additional information the regulator needs and whether the medicine has already been approved in another country.
CagriSema vs other weight loss injections
But how does Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema compare to currently available weight loss injections?
We’ve already mentioned that CagriSema drove more weight loss than Wegovy in clinical trials. Well, that’s the case for Saxenda weight loss injections, too. After a year on Saxenda, the average loss is 7.4% of starting weight.
Yet Mounjaro comes out on top. After 88 weeks on the medicine, the mean loss was 25.3% body weight.
Other next-generation treatments, such as Survodutide (which targets both GLP-1 and glucagon receptors) and petrelintide (an amylin-based therapy from Zealand Pharma), are also being researched and could offer even more options in the future.
But be careful here. These trials all had different durations so aren’t really comparable. And while some results might seem more impressive than others, there’s no such thing as the “best” weight loss injection because everyone responds to medicine differently. There’s only what’s best for you personally. Your numbers might look different to the above, and that’s totally fine. You’re on your own journey—and we know you’ve got this.
Your weight loss journey
It’s super exciting to learn about new treatments on the horizon. But there are plenty of weight loss medications available right now that could help you reach your goals—especially if you’ve tried to lose weight another way but didn’t see the results you wanted.
As well as Saxenda, Wegovy and Mounjaro weight loss injections, there’s orlistat weight loss pills. Each of these are backed by science and can help drive long-term, sustainable shifts in weight.
You can get science-backed weight loss medicine through our programme, plus personalised support from our dedicated team of clinicians and coaches. They’ll work with you to transform your lifestyle, and will cheer you on at every step.
Take our quiz to find out if you’re eligible. Our clinicians will review and come back to you within minutes.
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