Follistatin vs Cagrilintide
A detailed comparison to help you understand the differences and choose the right peptide for your research goals.
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 →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 →Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Follistatin | Cagrilintide |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | 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. | 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. |
| Typical Dosage | Research protocols typically use 100-300mcg daily, though optimal dosing is not well established. Gene therapy approaches have also been studied. | Clinical trials: 2.4mg weekly as monotherapy or in combination with semaglutide 2.4mg (CagriSema). Optimal dosing still being determined. |
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection. Different isoforms exist (FS344, FS315) with varying properties. Requires careful sourcing due to complexity. | Subcutaneous injection once weekly. Currently only available in clinical trials - not yet FDA approved. |
| Side Effects | Limited human data. Theoretical concerns about effects on other organs where activin signaling is important. | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation similar to other incretin-based therapies. Combination with semaglutide may increase GI effects initially. |
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