Zenagamtide, formerly amycretin, is an investigational compound designed to activate GLP-1 and amylin receptors. Oral and injectable formulations have been studied separately, and results for one formulation should not automatically be applied to the other.
A compound can be discussed under one name for months, show up in early trial summaries under that name, and then suddenly get renamed like the pharmaceutical industry is trying to make everyone update their blog posts for fun.
That is exactly what happened with amycretin.
Amycretin is now publicly referred to as zenagamtide. Novo Nordisk describes it as an investigational, single-molecule GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist. The company is studying oral and injectable formulations.
Research update, November 4, 2026: Novo reports that its Phase 3 oral zenagamtide study AMAZE 9 has started. The randomized, placebo-controlled trial plans to enroll approximately 950 adults and evaluate weight change at 76 weeks. The study design is not a result or approval. Earlier published studies evaluated oral amycretin in Phase 1 and a separate injectable formulation in Phase 1b/2a; findings from the two formulations should be assessed separately. For more on the trial design, see The Weight Loss Atlas overview of AMAZE 9.
So if you have seen researchers, clinical trial summaries, biotech articles, or peptide comparison discussions using the name amycretin, and then later saw zenagamtide, they are referring to the same investigational Novo Nordisk compound.
This article has been updated to reflect the newer name while still preserving the original amycretin terminology, because many earlier research discussions and clinical references still use that name.
Quick Naming Update
Zenagamtide is the newer public name for the investigational compound previously known as amycretin.
You may see it written as:
- Zenagamtide
- Amycretin
- Zenagamtide, formerly known as amycretin
- Zenagamtide, also known as amycretin
- NNC0487-0111 in some pipeline or research references
For simplicity, this article will mainly use zenagamtide, while noting that it was formerly known as amycretin.
What Is Zenagamtide?
Zenagamtide, formerly known as amycretin, is an investigational long-acting peptide being developed by Novo Nordisk.
It is designed as a unimolecular GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist.
That means zenagamtide is not simply another GLP-1 receptor agonist.
It is being studied because it combines two highly relevant metabolic signaling pathways into one investigational molecule:
- GLP-1 receptor activity
- Amylin receptor activity
This makes zenagamtide different from classic GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide, and also different from dual incretin agonists such as tirzepatide. For a broader view of the research landscape, see our amylin program overview. Different study designs do not establish which compound is superior. For another amylin-focused candidate, see the petrelintide ZUPREME research update; it covers a separate investigational program and separate trials.
Its closest conceptual comparison is probably CagriSema, because CagriSema also combines GLP-1 and amylin-based activity. However, CagriSema uses two separate components, semaglutide and cagrilintide, while zenagamtide is designed as a single molecule.
Why GLP-1 and Amylin Together?
GLP-1-based research has become one of the biggest areas in metabolic science because GLP-1 receptor activation is associated with several important effects, including:
- Appetite regulation
- Glucose-dependent insulin signaling
- Reduced glucagon activity when glucose is elevated
- Delayed gastric emptying
- Improved post-meal glucose control
Amylin is another metabolic hormone involved in satiety, food intake, and post-meal glucose regulation.
In simple terms:
GLP-1 helps regulate appetite and glucose signaling.
Amylin helps reinforce satiety and meal-related metabolic control.
That is why the GLP-1 plus amylin combination has become so interesting.
Researchers are investigating whether activity at both pathways changes observed outcomes. A molecule’s targets alone do not establish superior effectiveness or safety.
The Bigger Shift: From Single-Pathway GLP-1 to Multi-Pathway Metabolic Research
The first major wave of modern metabolic peptide research centered heavily around GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Then the field moved into dual agonists.
Then triple agonists.
Now, amylin-based strategies are becoming one of the most important areas to watch.
That is where zenagamtide fits in.
It represents a broader trend in the metabolic research category:
- Semaglutide: GLP-1
- Tirzepatide: GLP-1 + GIP
- Retatrutide: GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon
- Cagrilintide: amylin
- Eloralintide: amylin-based metabolic research
- CagriSema: GLP-1 + amylin combination
- Zenagamtide: GLP-1 + amylin in one molecule
That is the real story.
Zenagamtide is not just another GLP-1 name.
It belongs to the next-generation category of multi-pathway metabolic compounds.
Zenagamtide vs Semaglutide
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Zenagamtide is different because it is designed to activate both GLP-1 and amylin receptor pathways.
Semaglutide
Semaglutide is one of the most recognized GLP-1 receptor agonists in the world. It has been studied extensively in diabetes, obesity, cardiometabolic outcomes, and other areas of metabolic research.
Its primary mechanism is centered around GLP-1 receptor activation.
Zenagamtide
Zenagamtide takes a different approach.
Instead of only targeting GLP-1 signaling, it adds amylin receptor activity into the same molecule.
That makes zenagamtide a next-generation investigational compound rather than a simple semaglutide comparison point.
Zenagamtide vs Semaglutide: Key Difference
Semaglutide is a single-pathway GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Zenagamtide is a dual-pathway GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist.
That distinction matters because the future of metabolic research appears to be moving beyond single-pathway GLP-1 activation and toward multi-pathway strategies.
Zenagamtide vs Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide is a dual agonist that targets:
- GLP-1 receptors
- GIP receptors
Zenagamtide targets:
- GLP-1 receptors
- Amylin receptors
This is one of the most important comparisons.
Both compounds are designed around multi-pathway metabolic signaling, but they are not targeting the same secondary pathway.
Tirzepatide uses GIP as the second pathway.
Zenagamtide uses amylin as the second pathway.
Tirzepatide Strategy
Tirzepatide combines GLP-1 and GIP activity. This dual incretin approach has made tirzepatide one of the most important metabolic compounds in the current category.
Zenagamtide Strategy
Zenagamtide takes a GLP-1 plus amylin approach. Instead of focusing on GIP, zenagamtide brings in amylin receptor activity, which may support satiety and food-intake regulation through a different biological pathway.
Zenagamtide vs Tirzepatide: Key Difference
Tirzepatide is a GLP-1/GIP dual agonist.
Zenagamtide is a GLP-1/amylin dual agonist.
So the comparison is not simply “which one is stronger.”
The better question is:
Which secondary pathway creates the most useful research profile when paired with GLP-1: GIP or amylin?
That is one of the big questions shaping the next generation of metabolic peptide research.
Zenagamtide vs Retatrutide
Retatrutide is another investigational compound, but it targets a different set of receptors. The number of targets alone does not establish which compound is more effective.
Retatrutide targets:
- GLP-1 receptors
- GIP receptors
- Glucagon receptors
Zenagamtide targets:
- GLP-1 receptors
- Amylin receptors
Retatrutide is a triple agonist.
Zenagamtide is a dual agonist.
Retatrutide Strategy
Retatrutide’s triple receptor design makes it one of the most ambitious compounds in metabolic research. Its glucagon receptor activity is especially interesting because glucagon signaling may influence energy expenditure, liver metabolism, and broader metabolic regulation.
Zenagamtide Strategy
Zenagamtide is not trying to target three receptors. Instead, it focuses on pairing GLP-1 activity with amylin activity.
That may make zenagamtide a more targeted satiety-focused strategy compared with retatrutide’s broader metabolic strategy.
Zenagamtide vs Retatrutide: Key Difference
Retatrutide is a GLP-1/GIP/glucagon triple agonist.
Zenagamtide is a GLP-1/amylin dual agonist.
Retatrutide may be thought of as a broad metabolic engine.
Zenagamtide may be thought of as a more focused GLP-1 plus satiety-signaling approach.
Zenagamtide vs Cagrilintide
Cagrilintide is an amylin analog. For a separate discussion of amylin-based molecules, see our cagrilintide and eloralintide comparison.
Zenagamtide is a GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist.
That makes the comparison important because both compounds involve amylin-based signaling, but they approach the category differently.
Cagrilintide Strategy
Cagrilintide is designed around amylin receptor activity. It is especially relevant because amylin signaling is associated with satiety, food-intake regulation, and post-meal metabolic control.
Zenagamtide Strategy
Zenagamtide combines amylin receptor activity with GLP-1 receptor activity in one molecule.
Instead of studying amylin activity by itself, zenagamtide pairs amylin signaling with the already well-known GLP-1 pathway.
Zenagamtide vs Cagrilintide: Key Difference
Cagrilintide is an amylin analog.
Zenagamtide is a GLP-1/amylin dual agonist.
Cagrilintide belongs to the amylin category.
Zenagamtide sits at the intersection of GLP-1 and amylin research.
Zenagamtide vs Eloralintide
Eloralintide is another important compound in the amylin-based metabolic research category.
This comparison matters because Eloralintide and zenagamtide both relate to amylin signaling, but they are not the same type of compound.
Eloralintide Strategy
Eloralintide is generally discussed as an amylin-based metabolic research compound.
Amylin-based compounds have attracted attention because amylin signaling is connected to satiety, food-intake regulation, and meal-related metabolic control.
This places Eloralintide in the growing category of compounds being explored for amylin-related metabolic effects.
Zenagamtide Strategy
Zenagamtide, formerly known as amycretin, combines GLP-1 and amylin receptor activity into one investigational molecule.
That gives zenagamtide a different profile from an amylin-focused compound alone.
It is not only part of the amylin conversation.
It is also part of the GLP-1 conversation.
Zenagamtide vs Eloralintide: Key Difference
Eloralintide is an amylin-based investigational compound.
Zenagamtide is a unimolecular GLP-1/amylin dual agonist.
In simple terms:
Eloralintide belongs in the amylin-based metabolic research category.
Zenagamtide belongs at the intersection of GLP-1 and amylin research.
That is why comparing the two is useful. Eloralintide helps show how important amylin signaling has become, while zenagamtide shows how amylin may be paired with GLP-1 activity in next-generation compound design.
Zenagamtide vs CagriSema
This may be the most direct comparison.
CagriSema combines:
- Semaglutide
- Cagrilintide
Semaglutide provides GLP-1 receptor activity.
Cagrilintide provides amylin-based activity.
Together, CagriSema is a GLP-1 plus amylin-based combination.
Zenagamtide is also designed around GLP-1 plus amylin activity, but instead of combining two separate agents, it integrates both activities into one investigational molecule.
CagriSema Strategy
CagriSema uses two separate components to combine GLP-1 and amylin-based effects.
Zenagamtide Strategy
Zenagamtide attempts to deliver GLP-1 and amylin receptor activity through one molecule.
Zenagamtide vs CagriSema: Key Difference
CagriSema is a combination approach.
Zenagamtide is a unimolecular approach.
That makes zenagamtide especially interesting from a research-design standpoint.
It is not simply “GLP-1 plus another peptide.”
It is a single engineered molecule intended to engage both pathways.
Zenagamtide Research Data: Why It Has Attracted Attention
Zenagamtide has attracted attention because early clinical research has shown meaningful effects on both body weight and glycemic markers.
In a published Phase 2 study in adults with type 2 diabetes, the highest studied injectable group had an estimated mean weight reduction of 14.6% at week 36. The sponsor reported a 2.1% reduction in the pooled placebo group under the same analysis; these are group averages, not individual predictions. The published report enrolled 262 participants and recorded serious adverse events in 21 of 261 exposed participants, including three in the placebo group. Most reported adverse events were gastrointestinal and mild to moderate in severity. A separate Phase 2 report evaluated oral zenagamtide; the formulations and study results should be assessed separately. Findings for an investigational medicine do not establish the properties of a separately supplied research material.
That is notable because individuals with type 2 diabetes often show less weight reduction in metabolic-drug trials than participants without diabetes.
Zenagamtide is also being developed in both subcutaneous and oral forms, which makes it even more interesting from a long-term research and commercial standpoint.
An oral next-generation GLP-1/amylin agonist would be a major development if later-stage data supports the early findings.
Simple Comparison Table
| Compound | Main Pathways | Type | Research/Clinical Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | GLP-1 | Single agonist | Established GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Tirzepatide | GLP-1 + GIP | Dual agonist | Approved dual incretin-based therapy |
| Retatrutide | GLP-1 + GIP + Glucagon | Triple agonist | Investigational triple agonist |
| Cagrilintide | Amylin | Amylin analog | Investigational amylin-based compound |
| Eloralintide | Amylin-based | Amylin-related metabolic compound | Investigational amylin-focused research compound |
| CagriSema | GLP-1 + Amylin | Combination therapy | Semaglutide plus cagrilintide |
| Zenagamtide / Amycretin | GLP-1 + Amylin | Unimolecular dual agonist | Investigational next-generation compound |
Why Zenagamtide Is Different
Zenagamtide stands out because it is not just trying to copy the first generation of GLP-1 drugs.
It represents a broader shift in metabolic research.
The first major wave was GLP-1.
Then came GLP-1 plus GIP.
Then came GLP-1 plus GIP plus glucagon.
Now, GLP-1 plus amylin and amylin-focused compounds are becoming major areas of interest.
Zenagamtide fits directly into that trend.
Its significance comes from three major factors:
- It combines GLP-1 and amylin receptor activity.
- It is designed as a single molecule.
- It is being studied in both injectable and oral forms.
That combination makes zenagamtide one of the more interesting next-generation compounds in the obesity and metabolic research pipeline.
Important Research Context
Zenagamtide is still investigational.
Comparison rule: A reported percentage for injectable zenagamtide should not be pasted onto an oral formulation, or compared directly with a percentage from a different compound’s trial, without checking duration, dose, population and estimand. Even when two molecules activate amylin-related pathways, their receptor profiles and pharmacokinetic behavior may differ. For a deeper look at comparisons within the amylin category, see cagrilintide versus eloralintide research.
That matters.
It should not be discussed as if it is already an approved medication. It should not be positioned as a replacement for semaglutide, tirzepatide, or any other approved therapy.
The correct way to understand zenagamtide is as a next-generation research compound being studied for its potential role in metabolic science.
The early data is interesting.
The mechanism is interesting.
The GLP-1 plus amylin strategy is interesting.
But larger, longer, later-stage studies are still needed to better understand durability, tolerability, safety, dosing, and how zenagamtide compares against other major compounds in the category.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zenagamtide
Is zenagamtide the same compound as amycretin?
Yes. Zenagamtide is the newer name for the investigational compound previously called amycretin. The underlying compound did not become a different molecule because its name changed.
How does zenagamtide differ from CagriSema?
Zenagamtide is designed as one molecule with GLP-1 and amylin receptor activity. CagriSema combines two components, semaglutide and cagrilintide. Different designs and separate trials do not establish which is more effective.
Are the oral and injectable study results interchangeable?
No. They concern different formulations and studies. Evaluate each result in the context of its population, duration, comparator and analysis.
Bottom Line
Zenagamtide, formerly known as amycretin, is one of the more important next-generation names in metabolic peptide research.
It is designed as a unimolecular GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist, which makes it different from semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide, cagrilintide, Eloralintide, and CagriSema.
The simplest way to understand it is this:
Semaglutide targets GLP-1.
Tirzepatide targets GLP-1 and GIP.
Retatrutide targets GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon.
Cagrilintide targets amylin-based signaling.
Eloralintide belongs in the amylin-based metabolic research category.
CagriSema combines GLP-1 and amylin-based components.
Zenagamtide combines GLP-1 and amylin receptor activity into one investigational molecule.
That is why the name change from amycretin to zenagamtide matters.
The science did not suddenly change because the name changed.
But the terminology did.
For researchers following this category, it is now important to recognize that amycretin and zenagamtide refer to the same investigational GLP-1/amylin compound.
As the metabolic research field continues moving toward multi-pathway compounds, zenagamtide deserves close attention.