From lizard to lab to you.

摘要

drama unfolds inside your body: Hormones called incretins race from the gut to the pancreas and tell that organ to produce more insulin. But just as soon as an incretin goes to work, a killer enzyme gives chase, bent on its annihilation.Understanding that natural process-plus a timely discovery about lizard venom (more on that later)-has led scientists to develop some of the newest diabetes medications. These meds, including exenatide (Byetta), sitagliptin (Januvia), and, most recently, saxagliptin (Onglyza), all use the incretin system to lower blood glucose in people with diabetes.