By Dina El Shammaa, Staff Reporter
Published: February 19, 2008, 17:29
Abu Dhabi: A lizard’s venom helped to give birth to a new Type 2 diabetes drug, which is now available in the UAE.
The drug, Exenatide (Byetta), is an artificial version of the venom found in the Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum).
The saliva of the two-feet long pink and black lizard, native to the US , contains a chemical exendin-4, similar to a human hormone to help regulate blood sugar.
Byetta has proven effective in the control of Type 2 diabetes in humans.
Scientists from drug companies Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals worked together to develop Exenatide, an artificial version of exendin-4 that can be injected into patients and stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin in response to raised blood sugar. It also influences digestion and appetite.
A significant effect of the drug is weight loss, which is a major benefit for Type 2 diabetes patients, who are often overweight.
It helps with glucose (blood sugar) management in several ways: It signals the pancreas to create additional insulin when glucose levels are too high; it regulates the liver so that it doesn't produce unneeded glucose; and helps slow the rate of sugar entering the bloodstream.
According to Dr Eisa Al Mansouri, Director of the Drug Control Department, Ministry of Health, the combination of blood sugar regulation and weight loss give Byetta an additional punch in the battle against diabetes.
"Our aim is to make available the best treatments for patients in the UAE. We give high importance to all that relates to the diabetes field, as we know that diabetes is one of the major conditions threatening our community. Byetta is a new class of treatment for diabetes. We are one of the first countries in the Middle East to make Byetta available," said Al Mansouri
Byetta has been available in the US since 2005. It is now offered in more than 23 countries and used by more than 700,000 diabetes patients worldwide.
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