The Bronx VA, a Lizard, and a Life-Changing Discovery
Scientific breakthroughs often emerge from unexpected sources, and the journey of a curious VA endocrinologist in the Bronx and an obscure desert lizard is no exception. This tale reveals how a shy, venomous reptile—the Gila monster—helped transform diabetes care and inspired a new generation of treatments with benefits that reach far beyond blood sugar control.
Back in the 1980s, Dr. John Eng, an endocrinologist at the Bronx VA Medical Center, began collaborating on a unique research project involving Gila monster venom. While these creatures might seem unlikely candidates for medical research, their venom held secrets that would turn out to be incredibly valuable for diabetes patients. Gila monsters, native to the American Southwest, have a slow metabolism that allows them to survive on just a few meals each year. Dr. Eng suspected their venom might help regulate this unique metabolic rhythm, and his intuition paid off.
Dr. Eng identified a compound in the venom called “exendin-4.” This molecule acts similarly to a human hormone that helps regulate insulin, but with a longer-lasting effect—an ideal quality for diabetes medication. However, in a twist that highlights how unexpected medical advances can be, the VA opted not to pursue a patent, leaving Dr. Eng to license the discovery himself. By 2005, the compound he uncovered became the FDA-approved drug Byetta, a powerful diabetes treatment and the first in a new class of medications that helps manage blood sugar and weight.
Today, exendin-4 and other GLP-1-inspired drugs have led to transformative treatments like Ozempic, which is widely recognized not only for managing diabetes but also for helping patients with weight loss. This single discovery in the Bronx VA has since inspired treatments that may also protect against kidney disease, heart disease, and even some neurological conditions.