Research onlyMetabolic healthSubcutaneousEvidence 3/5

Amylin

Also known as: IAPP, islet amyloid polypeptide

Amylin, co-secreted with insulin from pancreatic beta-cells, activates brainstem amylin receptors (calcitonin receptor paired with RAMPs) to promote satiation, slow gastric emptying, and suppress postprandial glucagon.

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Illustrative profileSubcutaneous

Database profileResearch only

AmylinMetabolic health

Drug class: Amylin receptor agonist (calcitonin peptide family hormone)
Primary targets: Amylin receptor AMY1 (CTR+RAMP1), Amylin receptor AMY2 (CTR+RAMP2), Amylin receptor AMY3 (CTR+RAMP3), Calcitonin receptor, Area postrema (brainstem)
Dose reference: No established dose for native amylin; it is an endogenous hormone, not a marketed consumer drug. Reference range applies only to the approved analog pramlintide (Symlin), dosed 15-120 mcg subcutaneously before meals per the FDA label (informational, not a recommendation).
Half-life: Native human amylin: approximately 13 minutes (short, rapidly degraded by insulin-degrading enzyme and renal clearance)
Developer / origin: Identified 1986-1987 by Per Westermark (Uppsala University) and Garth Cooper (University of Oxford)
Reference year: 1987
Evidence score: 3/5 - Mixed: strong physiology, analog-only human evidence

Evidence 3/5

Mixed: strong physiology, analog-only human evidence

Amylin's physiology (satiation, slowed gastric emptying, glucagon suppression) and RAMP-based receptor pharmacology are well established in primary literature, but human therapeutic evidence comes from engineered analogs such as pramlintide, not native amylin, which aggregates into cytotoxic islet amyloid and has a ~13-minute half-life.

Limited human pharmacology or small clinical evidence.

Evidence basis

Physiological Reviews and PMC mechanistic reviews document satiation, gastric emptying, and glucagon effects
IUPHAR classification and RAMP studies map amylin receptors as calcitonin receptor + RAMP1/2/3
FDA Symlin label establishes human evidence for the analog pramlintide, not native amylin
Nature and PMC sources document amylin aggregation and beta-cell cytotoxicity

Key references

How to read this entry

Dose references and half-life values are pulled from trial protocols, labels, reviews, or published summaries where available. They are context for research and comparison, not a personal dosing recommendation.

Status matters: approved drugs have regulated indications; investigational compounds are still being studied; research-only peptides do not have established human dosing, safety, or efficacy for consumer use.

Amylin guides

Read the matching guide or adjacent research pages for more context.

Amylin Peptide: IAPP Biology, Satiety Signaling and Drug DevelopmentAmylin is an endogenous beta-cell hormone behind satiety and glucose control, but native amylin aggregates and is a research target rather than a consumer drug.Pramlintide: Amylin Analog Evidence, Weight Loss and Safety LimitsPramlintide is the approved amylin analog behind Symlin, but its weight-loss story is narrower than newer obesity-amylin marketing suggests.CagriSema: Cagrilintide + Semaglutide Trial Results, Status and LimitsCagriSema is Novo Nordisk’s investigational amylin + GLP-1 combination. Trial averages look strong, but it is not approved and is not a DIY stack of research vials.Peptides for Weight Loss: GLP-1s, Tirzepatide, Retatrutide and What WorksA broad guide to weight-loss peptides, from approved GLP-1 and dual-incretin medicines to investigational retatrutide, cagrilintide and other research compounds.

Peptide calculators

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Glucagon binds the hepatic glucagon receptor (GCGR), raising cyclic AMP to stimulate glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, which increases blood glucose as the body's main counter-regulatory hormone opposing insulin.

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