Cagrilintide, an experimental once-weekly injectable drug copying amylin, a pancreatic fullness hormone, is studied for weight loss and is approved nowhere. Compared with inactive injections it produced meaningful, sustained weight loss, somewhat less than leading gut-hormone drugs but with less vomiting, plus a modest blood-pressure benefit. Side effects are mainly digestive and usually mild. Outside clinical trials only unregulated "research" chemicals exist, and weight is expected to return after stopping. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Body weight | No established target; track percentage change from own baseline | Efficacy |
| Waist-to-height ratio | No established target; track change from own baseline | Central fat |
| Blood pressure | Below 130/80 mm Hg | Efficacy; safety check for dizziness with blood-pressure drugs |
| HbA1c | 4.0–5.6% | Efficacy in diabetes; hypoglycemia safety check with glucose-lowering drugs |
| Fasting glucose | 70–99 mg/dL | Safety check for hypoglycemia with insulin or sulfonylureas |
| eGFR | Above 60 mL/min/1.73 m² | Safety check for dehydration-related kidney injury |
| Lean mass by DXA | No established target; track the share of lost weight that is lean tissue | Body composition |
Cadence: Weight and blood pressure weekly at home during the 16-week escalation, then monthly; HbA1c and kidney function at 3 months, then every 6 months; fingerstick glucose daily during escalation for insulin or sulfonylurea users; body composition at 6 and 12 months.