Byetta Makes Its Way Overseas...Finally

Filed in archive Treatment on November 16, 2006

Europe is finally privy to the popular diabetes drug Byetta, renown for being made with the saliva of Gila monsters. And it's supposed to be quite effective, too.

The drug, noted for its weight-loss benefits, has been approved for sale in 27 European countries, Lilly said Tuesday. It's the first market outside the United States for the drug, which Lilly is counting on to become a key future source of revenue.

Lilly co-developed Byetta with Amylin Pharmaceuticals, a San Diego-based company.

Byetta is given to diabetic patients to help control their blood-sugar levels before they become insulin-dependent. Many patients and diabetic advocacy groups report that people who take Byetta often lose weight, in contrast with some other diabetes drugs, which often cause weight gain.

"The word-of-mouth feedback has been remarkably positive, more so than any diabetes drug I can remember being launched," said Kelly L. Close, principal of the San Francisco diabetes and obesity-consulting firm Close Concerns.