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Investigational peptide drugLimited humanIn clinical trials

Amycretin

Amycretin (zenagamtide)

Last reviewed October 27, 2026 · 10 sources · Written for general readers · Compare with another compound →

The bottom line

Amycretin, now also called zenagamtide, is an experimental Novo Nordisk drug that acts on both GLP-1 and amylin receptors. Early placebo controlled trials showed large weight loss and lower blood sugar, but they were small, short and run by the maker, and stomach side effects were very common. Phase 3 trials began in 2026, and it is not FDA approved, so anything sold online is unregulated.

Where the evidence stands

What it is

Amycretin is an experimental drug from Novo Nordisk, also known by its new generic name zenagamtide. It is a single peptide that switches on two receptors: the GLP-1 receptor and the amylin receptor.[1][2]

It is being tested as a weekly shot under the skin and as a daily pill, for obesity and for type 2 diabetes.[1][2][3] It is not FDA approved.

A verified chemical formula, CAS number and sequence were not found in a public registry for this page.

Name
Amycretin (Amycretin (zenagamtide))
Other names
zenagamtide
Type
Investigational peptide drug

How it works

Amycretin is designed to act like two natural hormones at once.[1]

  • Like GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide, it switches on the GLP-1 receptor.[1]
  • It also switches on the amylin receptor. Amylin is a hormone released with insulin after meals that slows stomach emptying, lowers glucagon and acts on appetite through the brain.[4]
  • In cell tests it also switched on calcitonin receptors, a related family, and in rats it acted on brain areas that control eating.[5]

How much each receptor adds to its effects in people is not yet known.

What the research shows

We keep animal and human evidence apart. A result in animals is a reason to study something in people, not proof that it works in people.

Animal and lab studies

Rat and mouse studies showed weight loss and less liver fat

  • In diet induced obese rats treated for 21 days, amycretin cut body weight by about 18 percent compared with untreated rats.[5]
  • Treated rats ate about 47 percent fewer calories, while their calorie burn held steady, and their insulin sensitivity improved.[5]
  • In mice and rats it reduced signs of fatty liver disease, mainly liver fat.[5]

Limit: This animal work was done by the maker. Rodent results do not show long term safety in people.

Human studies

Early trials show large weight loss, but they were small and short

  • Weekly shot, phase 1b/2a: 125 adults with overweight or obesity were randomized, 101 to the drug and 24 to placebo. At the highest dose level, weight fell up to about 24 percent at 36 weeks, versus about 1 percent on placebo.[6][7]
  • In that trial, 80 of 83 people on the drug and all 18 on placebo in the main parts reported at least one side effect, mostly mild or moderate stomach problems that went away by the end. About a third left the trial, and most of those exits were not due to side effects.[7]
  • Daily pill, phase 1: 144 people took the pill or placebo for up to 12 weeks. Weight fell about 13 percent at the highest dose versus about 1 percent on placebo.[8][7]
  • In the pill trial, 62 percent of participants reported side effects. About half of all events were stomach related, such as nausea, vomiting and reduced appetite, all mild or moderate, and they became more common at higher doses. No deaths were reported.[7]
  • Weekly shot in type 2 diabetes, phase 2: 262 adults on metformin were treated for 36 weeks. HbA1c fell by up to 1.71 points versus 0.14 on placebo, and weight fell up to 14.6 percent versus 2.1 percent on placebo.[1]
  • In that diabetes trial, side effects were mostly stomach related and mild to moderate. Up to 89 percent reached an HbA1c under 7 percent.[1]
  • Daily pill in type 2 diabetes: a placebo controlled phase 2 dose finding trial was published in The Lancet in July 2026.[3]

Limit: These trials were small, short and run by the maker. Larger phase 3 trials are needed to judge benefit and safety.

Claims check

The most common claims about this compound, and what studies actually found. Verdicts rate the evidence, not whether you should use it.

Causes major weight loss

Shown in people

In a randomized trial of 125 adults with overweight or obesity, the weekly shot cut weight by up to about 24 percent at 36 weeks at the highest dose level, versus about 1 percent on placebo, with no plateau yet.[6][7] In 262 adults with type 2 diabetes, weight fell up to 14.6 percent at 36 weeks versus 2.1 percent on placebo.[1] These were small, mid stage trials run by the maker, and phase 3 results are not out yet.[2]

Works as a pill, not just a shot

Mixed results

In a first in human trial, 144 people took a daily pill or placebo for up to 12 weeks. Weight fell about 13 percent at the highest dose versus about 1 percent on placebo.[8][7] A phase 2 trial of the daily pill in type 2 diabetes was published in The Lancet in 2026.[3] Larger and longer pill trials were still being planned in 2026.[2]

Lowers blood sugar in type 2 diabetes

Shown in people

In a 36 week placebo controlled trial of 262 adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin, the weekly shot lowered HbA1c (a three month blood sugar average) by up to 1.71 points, versus 0.14 points on placebo. Up to 89 percent reached an HbA1c under 7 percent.[1] So far these numbers come from a company release and a meeting poster.

Works better than Ozempic or Wegovy

Not tested

We found no published trial comparing amycretin head to head with semaglutide. The early trials compared it only with placebo.[6][8] The phase 3 program that began in 2026 uses long placebo controlled trials.[2]

Gentler on the stomach than other weight loss drugs

No benefit in trials so far

Stomach side effects were very common. In the shot trial, 80 of 83 people on the drug had at least one side effect, mostly mild or moderate stomach problems, though all 18 on placebo also reported one.[7] In the pill trial, 62 percent had side effects and about half of all events were stomach related, rising with dose.[7] A cardiology society summary judged its safety and tolerability to be similar to GLP-1 only drugs, not better.[7]

Known risks and side effects

  • Stomach side effects. Nausea, vomiting and reduced appetite were the most common side effects. In the pill trial about half of all side effect reports were stomach related, and they rose with dose.[7]
  • Many people stopped early. About a third of people left the weekly shot trial, though most exits were not due to side effects.[7]
  • Unknown long term safety. No trial has yet followed people for years. The main phase 3 obesity trials, which last 84 weeks, only began in 2026.[2]
  • Unregulated online products. Because amycretin is not approved, anything sold online under its name is unregulated. FDA warns that GLP-1 products labeled for research use and sold to consumers are of unknown quality and may be harmful.[9]
  • Banned in sport. WADA bans at all times any drug not approved by a health regulator that no other section of its list covers, which would include amycretin while it remains unapproved.[10]

Regulatory status

Today: Amycretin is investigational and not FDA approved. Novo Nordisk started its AMAZE phase 3 program with the weekly shot in early 2026, and as of May 2026 planned to start phase 3 trials of the pill and in type 2 diabetes later in 2026.[2]

  1. Results of the first trials of the shot and the pill were published in The Lancet.[6][8]
  2. Novo Nordisk began the AMAZE phase 3 program, including 84 week placebo controlled trials in obesity and in obesity with type 2 diabetes.[2]
  3. Novo Nordisk presented phase 2 results of the weekly shot in type 2 diabetes using the name zenagamtide.[1]
  4. A phase 2 trial of the daily pill in type 2 diabetes was published in The Lancet.[3]

Sources

  1. Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk's investigational zenagamtide shows significant HbA1C reductions with up to 14.6% weight loss. June 6, 2026. Novo Nordisk news release
  2. Novo Nordisk A/S. Form 6-K: Financial report for the period 1 January 2026 to 31 March 2026. May 6, 2026. SEC filing
  3. Mora P, Aroda VR, Asong M, et al. Efficacy and safety of once-daily oral zenagamtide, a novel unimolecular GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist, in adults with type 2 diabetes: a multicentre, randomised, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding, phase 2 trial. Lancet. 2026;408(10555):607-620. PMID 42532079
  4. AstraZeneca. SYMLIN (pramlintide acetate) injection: prescribing information. Revised 12/2019. DailyMed. FDA label (DailyMed)
  5. Kuhre RE, Ballarín-González B, Brand CL, et al. The effect of amycretin, a unimolecular glucagon-like peptide-1 and amylin receptor agonist, on body weight and metabolic dysfunction in mice and rats. EBioMedicine. 2025;118:105862. PMID 40706446
  6. Dahl K, Toubro S, Dey S, et al. Amycretin, a novel, unimolecular GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist administered subcutaneously: results from a phase 1b/2a randomised controlled study. Lancet. 2025;406(10499):149-162. PMID 40550231
  7. American College of Cardiology. Oral, Subcutaneous Amycretin Similarly Safe, Tolerated as GLP-1 Monoagonists. Journal scan, July 2025. ACC journal scan
  8. Gasiorek A, Heydorn A, Gabery S, et al. Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of the first-in-class GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist, amycretin: a first-in-human, phase 1, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2025;406(10499):135-148. PMID 40550229
  9. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA's Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss. Content current as of October 1, 2026. FDA safety page
  10. World Anti-Doping Agency. World Anti-Doping Code International Standard: Prohibited List 2026. September 2025. WADA Prohibited List 2026
Medical disclaimer

This page is educational information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace care from a licensed medical provider. Do not use this page to decide whether to take any substance. Talk to a licensed medical provider first.

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