Saliva of the Gila Monster? Are you kidding me?

[KitchenWitch]

http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/29/news/fortune500/byetta/

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - A new diabetes treatment from Eli Lilly and Amylin that is extracted from the saliva of the Gila monster received approval from the Food and Drug Administration Friday, but analysts believe sales might be lackluster because patients are afraid of needles.

"The issue here is how many people are willing to take a twice a day injection," said Scott Henry, analyst for Oppenheimer & Co. "If someone says you can take a pill or shoot yourself with a needle twice a day, the pill is starting to look pretty good."

Byetta, which was co-developed by both companies, improves blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to Amylin Pharmaceuticals (down $1.28 to $16.90, Research) and Eli Lilly and Co (up $0.32 to $58.32, Research). The drug, developed from a compound in the toxic saliva of a rare lizard found only in the Southwest U.S. and Mexico, will be available June 1 for patients who aren't getting enough insulin through oral medication, the companies said.

[hfojvt]

1. Yum. It is nutritious

and delicious. :9

[KitchenWitch]

2. I guess it is better than the sweat off a freeper's balls.

[hfojvt]

3. apparently, in some cultures

that is used as currency.

[LynzM]

4. The writer didn't do their homework

You can't get insulin through oral medication. You can only get insulin through injections. Pills help your body better utilize or produce insulin if you are still producing any.

[KitchenWitch]

5. I emailed CNN/Money about that

If insulin were oral, millions of lives would be simpified...

[LynzM]

6. A-yup. Mine included.

I know they've got a lot of topics to cover, but... yeah.