Did You Know That We Wouldn’t Have Ozempic Without Gila Monsters? Here’s Why.

Ozempic has been all over the news lately.

This diabetic drug, turned weight-loss miracle, has people — including celebrities — rushing to their doctors to be prescribed this effortless weight-loss injectable.

But, you might want to rethink the whole Ozempic thing when you hear how they make it.

Two words: Gila Monsters.

Before you get too squeamish and grossed out, check out what researchers have found.

It turns out, Gila Monsters have a special hormone in their venom that is pretty close to a human hormone that regulates hunger.

According to Insider, humans have a hunger-regulating hormone in the small intestine, “which helps control blood sugar levels,” and it is pretty similar to what’s found in the venom of Gila Monsters.

BUT, the hormone found in Gila Monster venom actually lasts much longer than the human hunger hormone that’s produced in the small intestine.

The human form of the hormone only lasts minutes, where the Gila Monster venom can curb hunger and regulate glucose for a few hours.

That seems like a no-brainer. We want the one the works longer, right?

Amylin — a biotech startup — used the research on Gila Monster spit to create a synthetic version of the hormone called extenatide.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in 2005, approved extenatide to treat type 2 diabetes. 

According to MedlinePlus, it works by “stimulating the pancreas to secrete insulin when blood sugar levels are high.”

This also helps to curb hunger cravings — hence the reason people are using it to lose weight.

So, without the Gila Monster, we wouldn’t have drugs like Ozempic.

Isn’t that crazy?!?

I wonder what other secrets animals and plants are hiding that can help humans.