Lizard venom has played a crucial part in helping humans take a bite out of diabetes and obesity. <\/p>\n
The Gila monster is a large, magnificent and venomous desert-dwelling reptile found throughout the southwestern US and Mexico. A toxic bite from the Gila can cause searing pain, loss of consciousness and in rare cases, death<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, a specific element in the venom<\/a> of the dangerous Gila inspired the development of glucagon-like peptide agonists such as Ozempic and Wegovy.<\/p>\n After prolonged periods without food, the Gila monster can slow down its metabolism and maintain constant blood sugar levels without affecting its health. JAY \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n GLP-1 receptor agonists are synthetic drugs that mimic the GLP-1 hormone, which is naturally released in the gut after eating. This hormone helps regulate appetite by creating a feeling of fullness.<\/p>\n In the late 1990s, Canadian endocrinologist Daniel J. Drucker, a pioneer in diabetes treatment whose work paved the way for Ozempic, was searching for a hormone similar to GLP-1. He believed that in a slow-dissolving form, such a hormone could function as an appetite suppressant and blood sugar regulator.<\/p>\n How Gila monsters slow their metabolism<\/p>\n Drucker learned that a research team led by Dr. John Eng at the Veterans Administration Center in The Bronx had sequenced the proteins in Gila monster venom<\/a> and found two that resemble human GLP-1.<\/p>\n Eng discovered that after prolonged periods without food, the Gila monster can slow down its metabolism and maintain constant blood sugar levels without affecting its health. <\/p>\n Analyzing the lizard\u2019s venom, he discovered a peptide he named exendin, which triggers the synthesis and release of insulin from beta cells in the pancreas.<\/p>\n The popularity of GLP-1 drugs has led to an explosion in counterfeit products. alones \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Inspired by these findings, Drucker and his team acquired and dissected a Gila monster. Their work confirmed that the reptile\u2019s genes produce the protein exendin-4.<\/p>\n Unlike the GLP-1 found in the human body \u2014 which remains active for only two minutes \u2014 exendin-4 remains active for hours, paving the way for the possibility that the protein could be used to treat both diabetes and obesity.<\/p>\n Getting GLP-1s to the masses<\/p>\n Following further testing, this GLP-1 agonist was deemed safe and effective and was approved by the FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in 2005.<\/p>\n The drug has since become wildly popular as a weight-loss treatment and has been linked to a slew of health benefits. <\/a><\/p>\n However, the popularity of GLP-1 drugs has led to an explosion in counterfeit products.<\/p>\n Any medications labeled with lot number PAR0362 and having a serial number starting with the first eight digits 51746517 should not be used, sold, or distributed, according to the agency. FDA<\/p>\n Got Ozempic? Check the box for these numbers<\/p>\n