# Amycretin (Zenagamtide): Results, Phase 3, Pill vs Shot

Source: https://www.dietglp.com/blog/amycretin-zenagamtide/
Published: 2026-10-20
Keywords: amycretin, zenagamtide, zenagamtide amycretin, amycretin novo nordisk, amycretin phase 3, amycretin side effects, amycretin weight loss, amycretin pill, amycretin oral, amycretin clinical trial, amycretin vs cagrisema, amycretin vs retatrutide, when will amycretin be available, how does amycretin work, amycretin cost

**TL;DR:** Amycretin, now named zenagamtide, is an investigational Novo Nordisk drug that hits GLP-1 and amylin receptors with one molecule, as a weekly shot or a daily pill. In its phase 1b/2a study, the weekly shot led to 22% weight loss at 36 weeks on 20 mg, and the AMAZE phase 3 program started in 2026, so approval is still years away. While you wait for the next drug, [Sharpy](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glp-diet-app-sharpy/id6762084138) helps you keep muscle on today's GLP-1 with one protein target and one 20-minute workout a day.

What is amycretin, and why do some sites now call it zenagamtide? **Amycretin is an experimental Novo Nordisk weight loss drug that turns on two fullness signals, GLP-1 and amylin, with a single molecule.** In 2026 it got an official generic name: zenagamtide. It is not approved anywhere. It is in phase 3 trials as a weekly shot and a daily pill, and a new heart outcomes trial was registered on October 6, 2026.

## Amycretin vs zenagamtide: one drug, two names

Amycretin was the working name during early studies. Novo's development code is NN9487, and early trial records call it NNC0487-0111. In 2026, Novo began using **zenagamtide**. Two Lancet papers published July 30, 2026, describe it as "zenagamtide (formerly amycretin)," and new trial records on ClinicalTrials.gov use the new name.

So if you see "zenagamtide amycretin" in a headline, it is the same drug. The search for "amycretin" is still far bigger, which is why most news still uses the old name.

## How does amycretin work?

Most GLP-1 drugs act on one hormone pathway. Amycretin acts on two:

- **GLP-1 receptors.** The same target as semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic). It lowers appetite, slows stomach emptying and helps insulin work after meals.
- **Amylin receptors.** Amylin is a hormone your pancreas releases with insulin. It signals fullness in the brain. Amylin receptors are built from calcitonin receptors, so papers describe zenagamtide as acting on GLP-1, amylin and calcitonin receptors.

Novo's [CagriSema](/blog/cagrisema/) also combines GLP-1 and amylin, but it does it with two separate drugs (cagrilintide plus semaglutide) in one pen. Amycretin puts both actions into one molecule. That matters because a single peptide can be made into a tablet, which is harder with a two-drug mix.

## Amycretin trial results so far

Here is what has been published or announced by Novo Nordisk. These are early-phase results. Small groups and short timelines can make numbers look better or worse than they will be in big trials.

| Study | Who | Form | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1b/2a (Lancet, 2025) | 125 adults with overweight or obesity | Weekly shot | 22.0% weight loss at 36 weeks on 20 mg (placebo +1.9%); 24.3% on 60 mg (placebo -1.1%) |
| Same study, lower doses | Same | Weekly shot | 16.2% at 28 weeks on 5 mg; 9.7% at 20 weeks on 1.25 mg |
| Phase 1 (Lancet, 2025) | 144 adults with overweight or obesity | Daily pill | Novo reported 13.1% at 12 weeks on 100 mg (placebo 1.2%) |
| Phase 2 (Lancet, 2026) | 262 adults with type 2 diabetes | Weekly shot | A1C down 1.7 points on 40 mg; weight down 14.6% at 36 weeks (placebo 2.1%) |
| Phase 2 (Lancet, 2026) | 186 adults with type 2 diabetes | Daily pill | A1C down 0.9 to 1.4 points on 6 to 50 mg at 36 weeks |

Two things stand out. First, in the 36-week shot study, Novo said weight was still falling at the end, so the full effect may be larger. Second, people with type 2 diabetes usually lose less weight on these drugs than people without diabetes, so the 14.6% figure is not a weaker result. For how this compares to today's approved drugs, see our [Wegovy vs Ozempic guide](/blog/wegovy-vs-ozempic/).

## Amycretin phase 3: the AMAZE and AMBITION trials

Novo has moved fast. ClinicalTrials.gov now lists a large phase 3 program. Here are the trials most readers will care about:

| Trial | What it tests | Size | Primary completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMAZE 1 | Weekly shot vs placebo, obesity, 84 weeks | 1,150 | June 2029 |
| AMAZE 2 | Weekly shot, obesity with type 2 diabetes | 630 | August 2028 |
| AMAZE 7 | Weekly shot vs semaglutide, obesity, 84 weeks | 650 | October 2028 |
| AMAZE 8 | Weekly shot vs semaglutide, type 2 diabetes | 1,000 | December 2028 |
| AMAZE 9 | Daily pill vs placebo, 5 doses, 76 weeks | 950 | June 2028 |
| AMBITION 7 | Weekly shot vs insulin glargine, type 2 diabetes | 1,778 | July 2028 |
| HF-POLARIS | Heart failure with obesity | 5,610 | July 2029 |
| AMBIENCE | Heart attacks, strokes and heart failure events vs placebo | 8,500 | 2030 |

AMAZE 3 to 6 also test the drug in sleep apnea and knee osteoarthritis. AMBIENCE, the heart outcomes trial, was first posted on October 6, 2026, and lists a start date of October 26, 2026. Dates on ClinicalTrials.gov are estimates and often move.

## When will amycretin be available?

Not soon. Most AMAZE trials are not expected to finish until 2028 or 2029. After that, Novo would need to file with the FDA, and a review usually takes about a year. Novo has not given a launch date, and any year you see online is a guess.

If you want to take part, the trial records on ClinicalTrials.gov list sites and contacts. Ask your doctor whether a trial near you fits your health history.

## Amycretin side effects

In every published study, stomach side effects were the most common, and they rose with dose. In the oral phase 1 study, 62% of people had at least one side effect, all mild or moderate, and about half of all events were gastrointestinal. In the oral diabetes study, stomach side effects hit 26% on 6 mg, 41% on 25 mg and 47% on 50 mg, versus 23% on placebo.

That pattern looks like the rest of the GLP-1 class. There is no label yet, so no official dosing schedule or warning list exists. Our guide to [managing nausea on GLP-1 medications](/blog/managing-nausea-on-ozempic/) covers what helps on today's drugs.

## Amycretin vs CagriSema vs retatrutide

| | Amycretin (zenagamtide) | CagriSema | Retatrutide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maker | Novo Nordisk | Novo Nordisk | Eli Lilly |
| Targets | GLP-1 + amylin, one molecule | Amylin drug + semaglutide, two molecules | GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon |
| Forms tested | Weekly shot and daily pill | Weekly shot | Weekly shot |
| Stage | Phase 3 (started 2026) | Filed with FDA (decision expected Q4 2026) | Phase 3 |

No trial compares these three directly. Our [retatrutide guide](/blog/retatrutide-guide/) covers Lilly's triple agonist in detail.

## Losing 20% or more: protect your muscle

Drugs like amycretin are pushing average weight loss past 20%. When you lose that much, some of it can be muscle, not just fat. Keeping muscle helps your strength, your metabolism and how you look at the end.

The basics work on any GLP-1 drug, approved or future: eat enough protein every day and lift something a few times a week. Our [protein target guide](/blog/protein-target-on-glp1/) shows how to find your number. [Sharpy](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glp-diet-app-sharpy/id6762084138) turns that into one daily protein target, a 20-minute workout and a Shape Score, so you can see whether the weight you lose is fat.

## Can you buy amycretin? A warning about "zenagamtide sodium"

Search results already show peptide shops selling "amycretin" or "zenagamtide sodium." These are labeled for research use only, not for people. Nobody has checked what is in the vial, how strong it is or whether it is sterile. Black-market versions of other pipeline drugs have already caused harm. Talk to your prescriber about approved options instead.

## The bottom line

Amycretin, now zenagamtide, is Novo Nordisk's one-molecule GLP-1 and amylin drug. Early studies showed about 22% to 24% weight loss with the weekly shot, and a daily pill is in phase 3 too. Results from the big AMAZE trials are expected around 2028 and 2029, so it is not an option yet. Until then, protect your muscle on the drug you have. [Sharpy](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glp-diet-app-sharpy/id6762084138) makes protein and strength a simple daily habit.

## Sources

- [Amycretin administered subcutaneously: phase 1b/2a randomised controlled study, The Lancet, 2025](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40550231/)
- [First-in-human phase 1 trial of oral amycretin, The Lancet, 2025](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40550229/)
- [Once-weekly subcutaneous zenagamtide in type 2 diabetes: phase 2 trial, The Lancet, 2026](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42532080/)
- [Once-daily oral zenagamtide in type 2 diabetes: phase 2 trial, The Lancet, 2026](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42532079/)
- [Novo Nordisk to advance subcutaneous and oral amycretin into phase 3, Novo Nordisk, June 2025](https://www.novonordisk.com/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=916348)
- [Zenagamtide shows A1C reductions with up to 14.6% weight loss, ADA 2026, PR Newswire, June 5, 2026](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-nordisks-investigational-zenagamtide-shows-significant-a1c-reductions-with-up-to-14-6-weight-loss-in-adults-with-type-2-diabetespresented-at-ada-2026--302793124.html)
- [AMAZE 1 study record, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07339423](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07339423)
- [AMAZE 7 (vs semaglutide) study record, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07668414](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07668414)
- [AMAZE 9 (oral) study record, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07720271](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07720271)
- [AMBIENCE heart outcomes study record, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07861100](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07861100)


## Frequently asked questions

**Q: What is amycretin?**

A: Amycretin is an investigational weight loss drug from Novo Nordisk. It is a single molecule that activates both GLP-1 receptors (like semaglutide) and amylin receptors (like cagrilintide). Novo is testing it as a once-weekly injection and as a once-daily tablet.

**Q: Is zenagamtide the same as amycretin?**

A: Yes. Zenagamtide is the new generic name for amycretin. Novo Nordisk press releases, ClinicalTrials.gov records and two Lancet papers from July 2026 use zenagamtide, and the Lancet papers describe it as "formerly amycretin." The drug itself did not change.

**Q: How much weight do people lose on amycretin?**

A: In a phase 1b/2a study published in The Lancet in 2025, people with overweight or obesity lost 22.0% of their weight at 36 weeks on a 20 mg weekly dose and 24.3% on 60 mg, versus small gains or about 1% loss on placebo. These were small early studies. Phase 3 results are not out yet.

**Q: Is amycretin FDA approved?**

A: No. Amycretin (zenagamtide) is not approved by the FDA, EMA or any other regulator. Its phase 3 obesity program, called AMAZE, began enrolling in February 2026, and most AMAZE trials list primary completion dates in 2028 or 2029.

**Q: What are the side effects of amycretin?**

A: In published trials, the most common side effects were gastrointestinal, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation, and most were mild to moderate. They became more common at higher doses. There is no official label yet, so there is no complete side effect list.

**Q: Is amycretin better than CagriSema?**

A: No head-to-head trial has compared them. CagriSema uses two separate drugs in one shot, while amycretin is one molecule that does both jobs and can also be made as a pill. Early amycretin numbers look strong, but they come from much smaller and shorter studies than CagriSema's phase 3 trials.

**Q: Can I buy amycretin online?**

A: Not legally as a medicine. Products sold online as amycretin or "zenagamtide sodium" are research chemicals labeled not for human use. They have not been checked for safety, purity or dose. The only legitimate way to take it today is inside a clinical trial.