🧵 How Gila monster’s venom inspired a new fat-loss drug that everyone is talking about.
A story of unlikely collaboration.
This is how Semaglutide (Ozempic) was invented:
Semaglutide is an injectable drug that is used to treat Type 2 diabetes.
But, how did a diabetes drug become a potential game-changer for obesity?
It all started in 1995.
An endocrinologist named Daniel Drucker learned that the venom of Gila Monster lizard contained hormones that can regulate blood sugar.
His curiosity led to a call with a zoo in Utah & had a lizard shipped to his lab where he started experimenting on the deadly venom.
⏳Fast forward 10 years.
A synthetic version of the hormone in the venom known as GLP-1 receptor agonist became the first medicine of its kind to be approved to treat type 2 diabetes.
But scientists noticed something else.👇🏽
Scientists started seeing that mice on the drug and patients with Type 2 diabetes who took semaglutide were losing weight.
This was a surprise, as the drug wasn't designed for weight loss.
After more research, it was found that semaglutide works by reducing appetite.
The drug mimics the hormones that tell your brain when you're full.
It's now being studied as a potential treatment for obesity.
Obesity is a global health crisis.
In England, 1 in 4 adults are known to be obese & a further 37.9% are overweight.
Apart from bariatric surgery, most #weightloss treatments, especially medication have proven to be mostly ineffective till date.
Semaglutide isin’t a cure-all for obesity but has recently been approved by NICE for patients with a BMI of >35 or those who are overweight with at least one weight related health problem.
This is alongside a reduced calorie diet & increased physical activity.
New treatments like Semaglutide are indeed promising, yet warrant balanced scrutiny.
Unknown long term implications underscore the need for cautious interpretation of initial results.
It remains critical to prioritise sustainable lifestyle changes over pounds lost.
Nonetheless, let’s thank the Gila Monster lizard for this medical breakthrough.
This reptile’s venom has inspired a new generation of treatments, opening doors for further research and better understanding of obesity. 🙏🏽🦎 #thankthelizard
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.