Buford the Gila monster at Caldwell Zoo plays a surprising role in medical research, with the venom contributing to diabetes and weight loss medications.
TYLER, Texas — A lizard at the Caldwell Zoo may look small and calm, but scientists say animals like him have helped create medications used by millions of people. Meet Buford, a Gila monster living in the zoo’s reptile building.
Zoo officials say the species plays a surprising role in medical research, contributing to medications used to treat type 2 diabetes and aid in weight loss.
“So, they are native to the southwestern part of the US and then also the very northern part of Mexico” said Katelyn Lenhart, supervisor of reptiles at the Caldwell Zoo, during a behind-the-scenes look at the exhibit.
While Buford appears calm in the zoo environment, experts say the species can be much more defensive in the wild. The reason people should admire them from a distance is simple — Gila monsters are venomous.
“Their bites can cause a lot of nausea, pain, burning sensation, lowering of blood pressure, things like that,” she said.
But that venom has also led to groundbreaking medical research. According to zoo staff, scientists discovered a molecule in the Gila monster’s venom that helped inspire medications now widely used to treat diabetes and obesity.
“So his venom is actually very beneficial for us because there’s a molecule in his venom that they have been able to use to make all of the GLP-1 medications that we have today for type 2 diabetes and also for weight loss, so like Ozempic and Wegovy, for example” Lenhart explained.
Scientists first identified the molecule in the 1990s.
“Scientists back in the 90s found a molecule that’s very similar to the same GLP-1 that we produce naturally in our bodies. However, their molecule that they produce is a lot more efficient and it lasts a lot longer,” Lenhart said.
Despite their tough reputation, Gila monsters actually spend most of their time resting underground.
“They only eat about two to three times a year. They spend 95% of their time underground sleeping,” she said.
In the wild, they typically eat eggs, small rodents, birds and other reptiles.