Novo Nordisk, the company behind the blockbuster diabetes treatment Ozempic, is developing CagriSema, a new drug for weight loss and type 2 diabetes. CagriSema combines semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, with cagrilintide, aiming for enhanced efficacy.
CagriSema: A Dual-Action Approach
Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA). Semaglutide mimics the GLP-1 hormone, promoting insulin production, regulating blood sugar levels, slowing gastric emptying, and affecting brain areas controlling satiety. CagriSema enhances this mechanism by combining semaglutide with cagrilintide, a dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist.
How CagriSema Works
CagriSema mimics three gut hormones: GLP-1, amylin, and calcitonin. Amylin, co-secreted with insulin, regulates blood sugar, slows gastrointestinal emptying, and promotes satiety, similar to GLP-1. CagriSema also mimics calcitonin, a hormone that regulates blood calcium levels, adding another dimension to its metabolic effects.
Efficacy in Weight Loss
Early clinical trials of CagriSema demonstrated significant weight loss, with patients losing an average of 15.6% of their body weight over 32 weeks. Martin Holst Lange, Novo Nordisk's executive president of development, expressed confidence that larger trials would show CagriSema could help users lose up to 25% of their weight. This projection is based on data from previous trials, including studies that tested cagrilintide independently.
Timeline and Availability
Novo Nordisk anticipates releasing results from its Phase 3 trials of CagriSema later this year and in the first half of 2025. Pending favorable outcomes, the company could file regulatory applications with the FDA and EMA. If approved, CagriSema could potentially launch in the United States and Europe in late 2025 or early 2026. Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have been investing heavily to increase production capacity to meet the growing demand for weight-loss drugs.
