The takeaway
Adding cagrilintide produced greater average weight loss than semaglutide alone in this direct comparison. The result describes a specific trial population, not a guaranteed personal outcome.
Who took part?
REDEFINE 5 randomized 331 adults in Japan and Taiwan with obesity-related complications; 24% had type 2 diabetes. Participants received weekly cagrilintide 2.4 mg plus semaglutide 2.4 mg, or semaglutide 2.4 mg alone, alongside lifestyle support for 68 weeks. Treatment assignments were masked.
Percent of starting weight; assuming treatment continued as intended
Cagrilintide 2.4 mg plus semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly
18.4%
Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly
11.9%
Original visual based on the study.
| Group or measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Cagrilintide 2.4 mg plus semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | 18.4% |
| Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | 11.9% |
What changed?
Estimated average weight loss was 18.4% with the combination versus 11.9% with semaglutide—a 6.5-percentage-point difference.
This main analysis estimated outcomes assuming treatment continued as intended, with missing measurements filled in statistically. It is not an estimate of what everyone achieves after stopping or missing treatment.
What were the trade-offs?
Digestive side effects were reported by 53% versus 51%. Treatment was discontinued by 10% versus 6%, although the abstract does not attribute all discontinuations to side effects.
The study was mostly male and geographically concentrated. Results may differ in other populations. Novo Nordisk funded the trial.
Sources
Yamauchi and colleagues, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2026