According to the makers, "Byetta is a synthetic version of a protein found in the saliva of the Gila monster that works similarly to the human GLP-1."
The drug will take aim at Type 2 diabetes, a condition where some patients are unable to convert blood-sugar into energy. Type 2 diabetes is difficult to treat in many patients, and makers hope Byetta will work when other supplements fail.
AP reports that, "Byetta is the first so-called 'incretin mimetic,' meaning it mimics action of a hormone called GLP-1 that's secreted by the gut to spur insulin production after a meal -- but only when blood sugar is high."
Currently the drug is still only supplemental, needing other drugs to maintain a balance within the patient's blood-sugar levels. The FDA has pushed the drug makers towards making Byetta a "stand-alone treatment."


