Cagrilintide (5 mg vial)
Once weekly subcutaneous protocol for metabolic and weight-management research.
Cagrilintide is a long-acting amylin analog that works satiety through a separate pathway from the incretins, which is why pharma is pairing it with semaglutide in phase 3. The protocol below runs it once weekly subcutaneous with gradual escalation.
Quick answer: at the standard 5 mg + 1 mL reconstitution, a 4.5 mg dose of Cagrilintide draws 90 units (0.9 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe, once weekly subcutaneous.
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Protocol overview
Dosing & reconstitution
Frequency: Once weekly subcutaneous
Typical duration: 12-16 weeks
Reconstitution: 5 mg vial + 1 mL bacteriostatic water = 5 mg/mL. Units below are for a U-100 insulin syringe at this concentration.
| Phase | Dose | Units per injection |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-2 | 0.6 mg | 12 units (0.12 mL) |
| Weeks 3-4 | 1.2 mg | 24 units (0.24 mL) |
| Weeks 5-6 | 2.4 mg | 48 units (0.48 mL) |
| Weeks 7-16 | 4.5 mg | 90 units (0.9 mL) |
Units = (dose ÷ concentration) × 100 on a U-100 syringe. Change the vial size or water volume and the calculator redoes all of this for you.
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Cagrilintide dosing schedule
Cagrilintide has never been taken through one titration ladder. The phase 2 dose-finding trial ran five ascending parallel arms: the 0.3 mg and 0.6 mg arms were given their assigned amount from randomisation with no escalation at all, and the three higher arms each started at 0.6 mg and stepped up every two weeks until they reached the amount they had been assigned. Each row below is a separate arm.
| Phase | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 mg arm | 0.3 mg | Once weekly | No escalation — 0.3 mg from week 0 through week 26. |
| 0.6 mg arm | 0.6 mg | Once weekly | No escalation — 0.6 mg from week 0 through week 26. |
| 1.2 mg arm | 0.6 mg -> 1.2 mg | Once weekly | 0.6 mg at week 0, then 1.2 mg from week 2 to week 26. |
| 2.4 mg arm | 0.6 mg -> 1.2 mg -> 2.4 mg | Once weekly | Steps at weeks 0 and 2, then 2.4 mg from week 4 to week 26. |
| 4.5 mg arm | 0.6 mg -> 1.2 mg -> 2.4 mg -> 4.5 mg | Once weekly | Steps at weeks 0, 2 and 4, then 4.5 mg from week 6 to week 26. Highest arm studied. |
Study length: 26 weeks of treatment — including up to six weeks of escalation in the higher arms — followed by six weeks of off-treatment follow-up. Registry: NCT03856047.
Reconstitution and measurement
This part is arithmetic and does not depend on the evidence level. Concentration is vial size divided by the bacteriostatic water you add. Draw volume is your target amount divided by that concentration. Units are draw volume times 100, because a U-100 syringe reads 100 units per millilitre. Common vials for Cagrilintide: 10 mg.
- Wipe the stoppers of both vials with an alcohol swab and let them dry.
- Draw the bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe and inject it slowly down the inside wall of the peptide vial — never straight onto the powder.
- Swirl gently until the solution is clear. Do not shake; foaming and agitation damage peptides.
- Label the vial with the date and concentration, and refrigerate at 2–8 °C protected from light.
Worked example at the calculator defaults: 10 mg + 2 mL of bacteriostatic water = 5 mg/mL, so on a U-100 insulin syringe 1 unit = 50 mcg of Cagrilintide. Change either input and the calculator redoes this for you.
Storage and stability
Supplies math
Whatever amounts your research uses, the planning arithmetic is the same. The calculator runs all of this per compound.
Supplies by protocol length
Based on the maintenance dose above (4.5 mg, once weekly subcutaneous) and a 5 mg vial reconstituted with 1 mL.
| Duration | Injections | Vials | Syringes | Bac water | Swabs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | 8 | 8 x 5 mg | 9 | 1 x 10 mL | 16 |
| 12 weeks | 12 | 12 x 5 mg | 14 | 2 x 10 mL | 24 |
| 16 weeks | 16 | 16 x 5 mg | 18 | 2 x 10 mL | 32 |
Syringe count includes ~10% spares. Swabs = 2 per injection (stopper + site). Vial count assumes the full maintenance dose for the entire duration.
Important notes
Practical considerations for consistency and safety.
- Use a new sterile insulin syringe for each injection and dispose in a proper sharps container.
- Rotate injection sites (abdomen, thighs, upper arms) systematically to reduce local irritation and avoid lipohypertrophy.
- Inject slowly and steadily; wait a few seconds before withdrawing the needle to ensure complete delivery.
- Administer on the same day each week for consistency. If a dose is missed, administer as soon as possible within a few days.
- The 5 mg vial size is standard for this compound. Reconstitute with 1 mL bacteriostatic water for a convenient concentration.
How Cagrilintide works
A long-acting analog of amylin, a pancreatic hormone co-secreted with insulin. It acts on satiety pathways distinct from GLP-1, which is why it is studied alongside incretin agonists rather than instead of them.
Benefits & side effects
Potential benefits
- Amylin analog for appetite regulation
- Complements GLP-1 therapy for additive weight loss
- Promotes satiety through separate pathway
- Well tolerated in clinical trials
Possible side effects
- Nausea at higher doses
- Injection site reactions
- GI effects during escalation
- Generally well tolerated in trials
This list reflects published literature and community reports. Individual responses vary. Not medical advice.
Bloodwork worth tracking
The community-standard practice is a baseline panel before starting, a recheck 8 to 12 weeks in, and another after time off. For Cagrilintide, the markers most worth watching:
HbA1clipid panelCMPamylase
Typical time off: 4-8 wks between cycles
Lab panels are how a research protocol stays honest: numbers move before symptoms do. Interpretation belongs with a clinician. Not medical advice.
Lifestyle factors
None of the literature above was run on a background of poor sleep and no protein. These variables move outcomes more reliably than any compound on this site.
- Protein in the 1.6 to 2.2 g/kg range preserves lean mass through any body-composition phase.
- Resistance training 2 to 4 days per week plus 150+ minutes of weekly aerobic work reinforces whatever the protocol is doing.
- Sleep is the recovery window: 7 to 9 hours at consistent times.
- Hydration matters more than usual on compounds with GI or flushing effects: 2 to 3 liters daily.
- Track the variables that matter: weigh-ins, measurements, photos, and labs at sensible intervals.
Subcutaneous technique and practical notes
General best practice from clinical injection guidance — the same fundamentals nurses are taught, none of it specific to any compound.
References
Quick answers
How many syringe units is a 4.5 mg dose of Cagrilintide?
At the standard reconstitution of 5 mg with 1 mL bacteriostatic water (5 mg/mL), a 4.5 mg dose draws 90 units (0.9 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe.
How do you reconstitute Cagrilintide?
Add 1 mL of bacteriostatic water to the 5 mg vial for 5 mg/mL. Inject the water slowly down the inside wall of the vial, swirl gently without shaking, and refrigerate at 2 to 8 °C after mixing.
How long does a 5 mg vial of Cagrilintide last?
About 1 maintenance doses of 4.5 mg, roughly 1 week at once weekly subcutaneous.
Does Cagrilintide have human trial data?
Yes. The dosing on this page is anchored to published human research (Lau DCW et al., "Once-weekly cagrilintide for weight management in people with overweight and obesity: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding phase 2 trial", The Lancet 2021).
How does Cagrilintide work?
A long-acting analog of amylin, a pancreatic hormone co-secreted with insulin. It acts on satiety pathways distinct from GLP-1, which is why it is studied alongside incretin agonists rather than instead of them.
Sourcing Cagrilintide
Whatever you are working with, the documentation matters more than the price. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis whose lot number matches the vial you actually receive — a COA for a different batch tells you nothing about yours.
Cagrilintide at Summit Research Supply → Grade a COA first
Summit is the supplier we feature and an affiliate link. Our COA checklist applies the same way to any vendor.
