TL;DR: Retatrutide is a triple GIP/GLP-1/glucagon agonist with the steepest documented weight-loss curve in modern peptide research (~24.2% at 48 weeks). Cagrilintide is a long-acting amylin analogue running on a completely separate pathway, with milder mono-effect (~10.8%) but exceptional GI tolerability and clean stack compatibility. They occupy opposite ends of the efficacy/tolerability spectrum.
TL;DR — quick comparison table
| Dimension | Retatrutide | Cagrilintide |
|---|---|---|
| Receptor targets | GIP + GLP-1 + Glucagon | Amylin + Calcitonin |
| Peak weight loss (mono) | ~24.2% at 48 weeks (TRIUMPH-1) | ~10.8% at 26 weeks (Lau et al.) |
| Trial stage | Phase 3 ongoing | Phase 3 ongoing (REDEFINE) |
| Typical reference dose | 2 mg week, titrate to 12 mg weekly | 0.3 mg week, titrate to 2.4 mg weekly |
| Common side effects | Nausea, GI, transient HR rise, sweating | Mild nausea, injection-site reactions |
| PH availability | Limited supplier base | Available; smaller supplier base |
| Noki Labs price | ₱2,500–₱3,200 | ₱2,200 (10mg) |
| Best for | Maximum efficacy seekers | Tolerability-first individuals, stack partner |
How each peptide works (the science)
Retatrutide: triple-receptor energy intervention
Retatrutide engages three receptors simultaneously: GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon. The GIP and GLP-1 components reduce appetite and stabilize post-prandial glucose, mirroring Tirzepatide's incretin mechanism. The glucagon component is what differentiates it: glucagon agonism increases hepatic energy expenditure and lipolysis, producing a thermogenic-like effect on top of appetite reduction.
The trade-off is a slightly hotter side-effect profile (transient heart-rate rise, occasional sweating, more intense early-titration GI). The net result in TRIUMPH-1 was the steepest mono-peptide curve recorded.
Cagrilintide: amylin pathway, low GI burden
Cagrilintide is a long-acting amylin analogue. Amylin is co-secreted with insulin and signals satiety, slows gastric emptying, and suppresses post-meal glucagon. The pathway is independent of GIP and GLP-1, which means Cagrilintide can be combined with incretin agonists without saturating receptors. As a monotherapy it produces gentler, slower weight loss (~10.8% at 26 weeks) but with a notably mild side-effect profile.
Clinical evidence — head to head
Retatrutide: TRIUMPH-1 (Jastreboff et al., NEJM 2023) reported 24.2% mean weight reduction at the 12 mg dose by week 48. The continued-loss slope through follow-up suggested no plateau within the trial window.
Cagrilintide: Lau et al. (Lancet 2021) showed 10.8% loss at 2.4 mg over 26 weeks vs. 9.0% for liraglutide — superior to a benchmark GLP-1 monotherapy at matched duration.
Direct head-to-head trials between Retatrutide and Cagrilintide do not exist in published literature, but indirect comparison clearly favors Retatrutide on raw efficacy. Cagrilintide's competitive niche is tolerability and stack utility.
Cost in the Philippines
Reference prices: Atlas Compounds Retatrutide ~₱7,899/vial. Noki Labs is consistently below this. A 12-week titrated protocol:
| Protocol | Noki Labs cost |
|---|---|
| Retatrutide titrated to 8 mg | ~₱17,400 |
| Cagrilintide titrated to 2.4 mg | ~₱8,800 |
Cagrilintide is roughly half the per-cycle cost of Retatrutide. Apply WELCOME10 for first-order 10% off.
Side effects — what's different
Retatrutide brings the standard incretin GI profile plus glucagon-driven signals: a 3–7 bpm resting heart-rate increase at peak dose, occasional sweating, and a slightly hotter early-titration nausea curve. Cagrilintide is consistently rated among the mildest peptide compounds for GI — mild nausea, occasional injection-site redness, no significant cardiovascular signal.
Which is better for [persona/goal]?
If you're new to GLP-1 peptides
Neither, ideally — start with Tirzepatide for the densest dosing literature. If you must pick one of these two, Cagrilintide is gentler.
If you want maximum weight loss
Retatrutide. Steepest curve in any single-molecule peptide protocol.
If you have GI sensitivity
Cagrilintide — unambiguously. The amylin mechanism produces a different (subtler) form of appetite suppression with markedly less GI burden.
If you're stacking
Cagrilintide is the better stack partner. It sits on a separate pathway from Retatrutide and so adds effect without receptor competition.
Stacking Retatrutide with Cagrilintide
This stack is on the leading edge — less published data than Tirzepatide+Cagrilintide — but pharmacologically the rationale holds: Retatrutide drives the GIP/GLP-1/glucagon axes, Cagrilintide drives the amylin axis, no overlap. A reasonable clinical protocol mirrors the Tirzepatide+Cagrilintide rhythm: titrate Retatrutide first (4–6 weeks), then layer Cagrilintide. For a deeper review of stacking principles, see the Tirzepatide+Cagrilintide stack guide.
Where to buy in the Philippines
- Retatrutide: /products/retatrutide — ₱2,500–₱3,200, 2 variants
- Cagrilintide: /products/cagrilintide — ₱2,200, 10 mg vial
Browse the full weight-management collection. See the dedicated pillars at /pages/retatrutide-philippines and /pages/cagrilintide-philippines. For shipping detail, /pages/peptide-supplier-manila.
FAQ
Q: Can I run Retatrutide and Cagrilintide together? Pharmacologically yes — different pathways, no receptor competition. Less published data exists than for Tirzepatide+Cagrilintide.
Q: Which is more potent? Retatrutide, by a wide margin on raw weight-loss efficacy.
Q: Which has fewer side effects? Cagrilintide, by a similarly wide margin.
Q: How long is each cycle? Both are designed for ~12–16 week titrated cycles minimum, with longer protocols extending past 24 weeks.
Q: Is Retatrutide safe? Phase-3 safety data is still maturing. Phase-2 data shows it well-tolerated with a manageable side-effect ceiling.
Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting any new peptide or wellness regimen. Individual results vary. Statements about our products are educational and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Read more in our FAQ