Lizards lick diabetes
July 8, 2010
FROM 01 Aug patients will be
able to access the pre-filled set dose
injectable medication Byetta
for the management of type 2
diabetes.
The first in the GLP-1 class of
treatments to be listed on the PBS,
Byetta is a synthetic version of the
sugar-controlling protein exendin-4,
found in the saliva of gigantic Asian
lizard the Gila Monster.
The lizard’s protein exendin-4
allows it to survive on just three to
four meals per year.
“Exendin-4 was found to be very
similar to the human intestinal
hormone GLP-1 (glucagon like
peptide-1), secreted by intestinal
cells and released into the
bloodstream when food is
eaten, providing multiple
glucoregulatory functions across a
number of organs,” said Byetta
manufacturer Eli Lilly.
The medication enhances
glucose-dependent insulin secretion,
suppresses postprandial glucagon
secretion, reduces the amount of
glucose released by the liver, slows
gastric emptying and promotes
satiety and reduces appetite,
improving overall glycaemic control,
according to Dr Gregory Fulcher of
Royal North Shore Hospital.
Although well tolerated in trials,
some common Byetta side-effects
include nausea, vomiting
diarrhoea, and mild weight-loss.
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