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Lizard Venom: The Unlikely Source of Diabetes Drugs
31 Aug
Summary
- A desert lizard's venom led to a diabetes drug discovery.
- Exendin-4 molecule from Gila monster venom inspired Byetta.
- GLP-1 medicines transformed diabetes and obesity treatment.
Decades ago, a doctor researching desert lizard venom uncovered a molecule that would revolutionize diabetes treatment. Dr. John Eng, working at a Veterans Affairs hospital, identified exendin-4 in Gila monster venom in 1992. This molecule's unique properties addressed a key challenge with the human GLP-1 hormone: its rapid breakdown.
Exendin-4 acted on the same receptor as GLP-1 but lasted significantly longer, making it a promising drug candidate. Eng licensed his findings, leading to the development of exenatide, marketed as Byetta. The US Food and Drug Administration approved Byetta in 2005.
Byetta became the first approved GLP-1 receptor agonist, proving the viability of this biological pathway for medication. While newer drugs like Ozempic use modified human GLP-1, Eng's discovery of exendin-4 and the success of exenatide were critical milestones. These advancements ultimately contributed to the current generation of highly effective GLP-1 medicines.
