“Wake Up, It’s Time For Your Lizard Spit injection”
The Telegraph reports that scientists have discovered a new wonder drug to help combat diabetes that is made from - no kidding - synthetic lizard spit.
Diabetes sufferers could avoid complications including heart disease, kidney failure and blindness thanks to a new drug based on the spit of a giant poisonous lizard.
Scientists have developed a new treatment for the disease following the discovery that a chemical in the saliva of the pink and black Gila monster contains a chemical in its saliva, which is similar to a human hormone that helps regulate blood sugar.
Exenatide, which works by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin in response to raised blood sugar, was launched in the UK last week under the brand name Byetta. A chemical in the lizard’s saliva called exendin-4 was shown to act in a similar way to the human hormone glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1).
In healthy humans, GLP-1 triggers the production of insulin in the pancreas when blood sugar levels get too high. In those with Type 2 diabetes the signal to make more insulin is weak or missing.
Researchers developed a synthetic version of exendin-4 which can be injected into patients. In trials almost half, 46 per cent, of patients given exenatide on top of existing treatment metformin were able to control their blood sugar level adequately, compared to only 13 per cent of those given placebos.
We can't wait for the side effects of this one. When diabetes patients begin lying on rocks to sun themselves, we'll be suspicious. One serious question: who thinks of this stuff? Who actually sits around and asks, "I wonder what we can do with lizard spit? I know, let's give it to diabetics!"
Animals, World news | Gaius Tuesday, 8 May , 2007
By Bleepless, Tuesday, 8 May , 2007 @ 8:12 pm
Lying on rocks? What an insult! I just move slowly, eat carrion and flick my tongue a lot.