Amylin analogs
Copies of amylin, the fullness hormone your pancreas releases alongside insulin.
Amylin is the hormone that gets left out of the conversation. The pancreas releases it in the same breath as insulin, and it does the unglamorous work of slowing the stomach and closing out the meal. People with type 1 diabetes lose it along with insulin, which is how the first analog got made.
That first one, pramlintide, is approved and has been in use for two decades, but it needs several injections a day and never sold well. The newer analogs on this page were built to last a week instead of hours, which is what makes them interesting again — usually paired with a GLP-1 rather than used alone.
Expect the same side effect story as the GLP-1s: nausea early, easing as the dose climbs slowly. Anything here promising a different experience is selling, not reporting.
Cagrilintide is a long-acting amylin analog, a copy of amylin, the hormone your pancreas releases with insulin to signal fullness. In plain terms: it works on a different 'stop eating' pathway than the GLP-1 drugs, which is why it is often paired with semaglutide for bigger results.
Amycretin is a single molecule that combines GLP-1 and amylin activity. In plain terms: it packs two different 'stop eating' signals into one compound, with strong early weight-loss data. It is still experimental, in pill and injectable forms.
Pramlintide is a synthetic version of amylin, a hormone released with insulin. In plain terms: taken at meals alongside insulin in diabetes, it blunts the post-meal blood-sugar spike and reduces hunger. It is FDA-approved.
CagriSema is a fixed combination of cagrilintide (an amylin copy) and semaglutide (a GLP-1 copy) in one weekly shot. In plain terms: it hits two separate fullness pathways at once for bigger weight loss than either alone. It is still experimental.
Petrelintide is a long-acting amylin analog. In plain terms: it copies the pancreas's fullness hormone to reduce appetite, positioned as a gentler standalone weight-loss option. It is still experimental.
Eloralintide is an amylin receptor agonist from Eli Lilly. In plain terms: it copies the pancreas's fullness hormone for weight loss, designed to be easy to tolerate. It is still in trials.
Common questions
What does amylin do?
Amylin is released by the pancreas alongside insulin. It slows how fast the stomach empties and increases fullness after eating, which is why analogs of it are studied for weight and blood sugar.
Are amylin analogs the same as GLP-1 drugs?
No. They act on a different hormone pathway, though the practical effect on appetite overlaps. Some newer products combine an amylin analog with a GLP-1 agonist.
Are any amylin analogs approved?
Pramlintide has an approved product in the United States. Newer analogs such as cagrilintide are still in clinical trials.