A Monster breakthrough – the Gila Monster and diabetes
In 2005 the US Food and Drug Administration approved a drug for the management of type 2 diabetes, Byetta (exenatide), a synthetic version of a protein derived from the Gila monster's saliva.
The drug based on a synthetic form of a hormone called exendin-4 that occurs naturally in Gila monster saliva "led to healthy sustained glucose levels and progressive weight loss among people with type 2 diabetes who took part in a three-year study."
The lizard hormone is about 50% identical to a similar hormone in the human digestive system, that increases the production of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. Insulin helps move sugar from the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy. The lizard hormone remains effective much longer than the human hormone, and so its synthetic form helps people with type 2 diabetes keep their blood sugar levels from getting too high.
The Gila Monster is a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is a heavy, slow moving lizard, up to 60 cm (2 feet) long, and is the only venomous lizard native to the United States. Its skin has the appearance of black, pink, orange, and yellow beads, laid down in intricate patterns. These beads are small bony plates that form scales.