Lizard Saliva against Diabetes

“If we needed another reason to stop the extinction of animals and plants around the world, the new medication derived from the saliva of the giant Gila monster desert lizard may be one. In three companion articles published Tuesday, September 26, 2006, in The Arizona Republic, Phoenix’s daily newspaper, reporter Connie Midey examined the excitement about a new diabetes medication based on the venomous saliva of the Gila monster. The creature is native to the Sonoran Desert of the American Southwest and northern Mexico, and a protein in its venom is the source for the new medication Byetta, manufactured Eli Lilly and Amylin. Not to be confused with the hallucinogenic and psychedelic venom of the Sonoran Desert toad, the substance in Byetta is a synthetic form of the protein which is secreted from grooves in the Gila monster’s teeth.” The rest of the article over at UFODigest.