Cagrilintide vs Follistatin
A detailed comparison to help you understand the differences and choose the right peptide for your research goals.
Cagrilintide
Cagrilintide is a long-acting amylin analog in development, showing promising results when combined with semaglutide (CagriSema). Amylin is a hormone co-secreted with insulin that promotes satiety.
Full details →Follistatin
Follistatin is a glycoprotein that inhibits myostatin, the protein responsible for limiting muscle growth. By blocking myostatin, follistatin can theoretically allow for increased muscle development beyond natural limits.
Full details →Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Cagrilintide | Follistatin |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Activates amylin receptors (calcitonin receptor with RAMP proteins) to slow gastric emptying, suppress glucagon secretion, and reduce food intake through central satiety mechanisms distinct from GLP-1. | Binds to and neutralizes myostatin and activin, both of which are negative regulators of muscle mass. This removes the natural brake on muscle growth, allowing for enhanced hypertrophy. |
| Typical Dosage | Clinical trials: 2.4mg weekly as monotherapy or in combination with semaglutide 2.4mg (CagriSema). Optimal dosing still being determined. | Research protocols typically use 100-300mcg daily, though optimal dosing is not well established. Gene therapy approaches have also been studied. |
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection once weekly. Currently only available in clinical trials - not yet FDA approved. | Subcutaneous injection. Different isoforms exist (FS344, FS315) with varying properties. Requires careful sourcing due to complexity. |
| Side Effects | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation similar to other incretin-based therapies. Combination with semaglutide may increase GI effects initially. | Limited human data. Theoretical concerns about effects on other organs where activin signaling is important. |
| Best For |
Key Differences
Unique to Cagrilintide:
Unique to Follistatin:
Detailed Analysis
Commonalities
Cagrilintide and Follistatin are used for different purposes and have limited overlap in their applications.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Cagrilintide for Fat Loss. Choose Follistatin for Muscle Growth.