Venom Lizard inspired ozepic – while FDA warns of fake knots

Lizard Venom has played an important role in helping people get a bite from diabetes and overweight.

Monster Gila is a great reptile, wonderful and poisonous of desert pollution found throughout the American southwest and Mexico. A toxic bite from the gila can cause severe pain, loss of consciousness and in rare cases, death.

However, a specific element in the hazardous gila venom inspired the development of peptide agonists similar to glucagon (GLP-1) as Ozepic and Wegovy.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are synthetic drugs that mimic the GLP-1 hormone, which is naturally released into the intestine after eating. This hormone helps regulate appetite by creating a sense of fullness.

In the late 1990s, Canadian endocrinologist Daniel J. Drucker, a pioneer in the treatment of diabetes, whose work paved the way to Ozepic, was looking for a Hormone similar to GLP-1. He believed that in a slow form, such a hormone could function as an appetite suppressor and blood sugar regulator.

As gila monsters slow down their metabolism

Drucker learned that a research team led by Dr. John Eng at the Bronx Veterans Administration Center, NY, had sequested proteins in the Gila monster venom and found two resembling the GLP-1 man.

Eng found that after prolonged periods without food, Gila monster can slow down its metabolism and maintain constant blood sugar levels without affecting its health.

Analyzing the lizard poison, he discovered a peptide that he called Exendin, which causes synthesis and release of insulin from beta cells in the pancreas.

Inspired by these findings, Drucker and his team won and distributed a Gila monster. Their work confirmed that reptile genes produce the Exendin-4 protein.

Unlike the GLP-1 found in the human body-which remains active for only two minutes-exendin-4 remains active for hours, paving the way for the protein can be used to treat both diabetes and overweight.

Taking GLP-1 in measures

After further testing, this GLP-1 agonist was considered safe and effective and approved by the FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in 2005.

The medicine has since become extremely popular as a weight loss treatment and has been associated with a host of health benefits.

However, the popularity of GLP-1 drugs has led to an outbreak of forged products.

You have ozepic? Check the box for these numbers

In an April 14 announcement, the Federal Administration of Drugs stated that Novo Nordisk, manufacturer of Ozepic and Wegovy, informed the agency that ‘secrets of one hundred ozepitis (semaglutide) were in the US drug supply chain.

The FDA has advised patients, wholesalers, retail pharmacies and health care professionals to control any Ozepic product in their possession.

Anydo the drug labeled with a very par0362 number and has a serial number starting with the first eight digits 51746517 should not be used, sold or distributed, according to the agency.

The currently seized products are being tested by FDA and Novo Nordisk to determine the identity, quality and safety of medicines.