- Weight loss
What’s the difference between CagriSema and Wegovy?
Written by: Editors
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CagriSema is a new investigational medicine for obesity. It is currently being investigated as a treatment for adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity by the Danish company Novo Nordisk. CagriSema is not yet available for purchase by the general public. What is the difference between CagriSema and the weight loss drug Wegovy? Although both medications are used to aid weight loss in people who are significantly overweight, they work in different ways. In this article, we'll take a closer look at how each medication works and what the key differences are.
CagriSema is a new (investigational) medicine that combines two active ingredients in one injection:
- Cagrilintide: An appetite suppressant. Cagrilintide acts in the same way as the naturally occurring hormone amylin, a hormone secreted by the pancreatic beta cells in response to food intake. It plays a crucial role in appetite regulation by slowing gastric emptying and promoting satiety.
- Semaglutide: Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a hormone which among other things helps lower blood sugar levels, slow gastric emptying and reduce appetite. It also disrupt natural hunger signals, tricking the brain into feeling full.
By combining these two complementary pharmaceutical ingredients, Novo Nordisk hopes to achieve superior weight loss results. CagriSema seems to be most effective when used as part of a comprehensive weight management plan that includes diet, exercise and behavioural changes.
What is Wegovy?
Wegovy contains the active substance semaglutide. It is used to aid weight loss in adults who are obese or overweight with weight-related health problems, such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is most effective when used when used alongside a low-calorie diet and regular exercise.
Key differences
While both CagriSema and Wegovy have similar effects in terms of weight loss, they are based on different active ingredients. CagriSema is still being studied in clinical trials, which means information on results, side effects and how it works is not yet available. Further long-term research is necessary to confirm its effects. As mentioned above, CagriSema and Wegovy do not contain the same active ingredients. The results in terms of weight loss also seem to differ.
The preliminary research results of CagriSema have demonstrated superior weight loss in obese or overweight adults. Novo Nordisk has reported that patients taking Wegovy maintained an average of 10% weight loss for up to four years. CagriSema is still being studied in clinical trials, so we only have the results of the completed first phase, a 68-week trial. These results are highly encouraging: a weight loss of up to 23% has been reported.
Administration
Both CagriSema and Wegovy are administered by injection which allows the medication to be absorbed more rapidly. Wegovy is administered once weekly under the skin. Patients can give themselves the injection at home. For CagriSema, no information is available yet on dosage and frequency of administration. In the trial the medication was injected subcutaneously.
Side effects
Like all medicines, Wegovy and CagriSema can cause side effects. To date, gastrointestinal side effects have been reported for CagriSema. These include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
When not to use Wegovy or CagriSema
CagriSema represents a promising new avenue for effective obesity management, but it is not suitable for everyone. Some people should not use CagriSema, or be extra careful. Tell your doctor if any of the following applies to you:
- You have ever had (or have a family history of) medullary thyroid carcinoma (medullary thyroid cancer) or multiple endocrine neoplasia 2 (MEN2) syndrome.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Weight loss medications should not be used during pregnancy and should be discontinued at least two months before a planned pregnancy. Not much is known about the potential risks to infants. For this reason, weight loss medications should not be used by women who are breastfeeding.
- Inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis): Although rare, patients on GLP-1RA have a risk of developing pancreatitis. Do not use weight loss medications if you have a history of pancreatitis.
- Severe stomach or bowel conditions: Semaglutide can potentially slow gastric emptying. Therefore, patients with severe stomach or bowel conditions should not use this medication, or caution with dosage is highly recommended. These patients face an increased risk of nausea, vomiting or gastrointestinal complications when using semaglutide.
- Allergic reactions due to sensitivity to one of the ingredients.
CagriSema has not yet been approved, so no definitive conclusions can be drawn about its effect and the side effects that may occur. The long-term effects on, for instance, thyroid, liver and kidney function still need to be established.
Conclusion
CagriSema is currently being tested in clinical trials. This makes it difficult to compare the efficacy and safety of CagriSema and other products. Doctoronline will continue to follow the developments surrounding this new weight loss drug and share updates as they become available. If you are currently living with obesity and struggling to lose weight, it's important to work with your healthcare provider to find a treatment plan that works for you. Doctoronline’s team of affiliated doctors can also help you on your weight loss journey.