Ozempic has stormed the world, grossing billions and becoming a household name not only for controlling blood sugar but also for its dramatic weight-loss effect. But before it was a celebrity-favored fad, its beginnings were anything but glamorous. This medical wonder has its roots in an unexpected place: a toxic desert lizard with a remarkable talent for living on a few meals a year—the Gila monster.

The Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum), which inhabits the deserts of North America, is famous for its slow movements and highly toxic venom. Its bite is lethal enough to kill small animals and inflict extreme pain on humans. But lurking in this venom was a breakthrough that led to Ozempic. Researchers examining the venom of the Gila monster discovered that it consisted of a novel hormone that delays digestion and modulates blood glucose levels—an advantage that enables the lizard to get by on a meager diet.

Also Read: Ozempic Users Found To Age Back By More Than 3 Years, Finds New Trial; Peer Review Pending

In the early 21st century, endocrinologist Daniel Drucker asked for a hormone that mimicked the appetite-inhibiting and blood sugar-controlling action of human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) yet would not be quickly broken down in the body. He was prompted by the research of scientists John Eng, Jean-Pierre Raufman, and John Pisano, who had cloned the proteins in Gila monster venom and found two similar in structure to human GLP-1.

Drucker and his colleagues at the University of Toronto obtained a Gila monster from the Utah Zoo breeding program to further study its distinctive biochemistry. Their work identified Exendin-4, a protein that closely resembled GLP-1 but persisted much longer in the blood. This discovery ultimately gave rise to synthetic GLP-1 agonists, transforming the treatment of type 2 diabetes and, more recently, obesity.

Though promising, it took decades before the discovery found its way into an FDA-approved drug. The initial GLP-1 agonist based on Gila monster venom was approved to treat diabetes in 2005. The two decades that followed saw the formulation of more advanced drugs such as semaglutide, which is the active component in Ozempic and its weight loss equivalent, Wegovy.

Also Read: What Is Ozempic Smell? Another Unusually Side Effect Your Weight-Loss Injection Might Come With

Now, millions depend on Ozempic to control diabetes and shed pounds, with demand so great that worldwide shortages have been reported. Its popularity has created a surge in off-label use, with social media spreading trends of dramatic weight loss among celebrities and influencers. But the tale of Ozempic is only one illustration of how nature's most toxic animals have led to life-saving medical breakthroughs.

Other Drugs that Came from Poisonous Animals

Ozempic is hardly the first life-saving medication to be developed from the animal world's toolkit of toxins. From the beginning of time, scientists have turned to nature to find answers to human illnesses, and in the process, have developed some of the most crucial medical advances.

One of the highest-selling medicines in the world, Lisinopril, has its roots in the Brazilian viper (Bothrops jararaca). The venom from the snake includes enzyme inhibitors that inhibit the blood of its prey from clotting so the venom can travel quickly. Researchers took this process and developed angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which decrease blood pressure and are commonly used to treat heart disease and hypertension.

Far down in the ocean, the Caribbean sea sponge (Tectitethya crypta) has been secretly making substances that defend it from foreign DNA brought by predators and prey. Those unusual nucleosides were the foundation for cytarabine, a drug used to treat leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma through chemotherapy. This discovery reaffirmed the belief that even the most basic life forms can be the solution to revolutionary cures.

In a breathtaking illustration of the paradoxical position of nature in medicine, deathstalker scorpion venom (Leiurus quinquestriatus) brought about the solution to the treatment of brain tumors. A team led by oncologist Jim Olson found that a peptide found in the venom, chlorotoxin Cy5.5, attaches itself only to brain tumor cells and leaves healthy tissue intact. This resulted in the creation of Tozuleristide, a fluorescent tag that aids surgeons in precise identification and resection of cancerous tissue.

The popularity of Ozempic and other venom-based medications indicates the yet unutilized potential of the biochemistry of nature. From fungal-sourced antibiotics to animal-venom-derived painkillers, researchers are learning every day about the possibilities for leveraging the might of nature. Researchers now search for potential new treatments for neurological conditions, pain, and heart disease from the spider venom, cone snail toxin, and even the bat's saliva.

But these findings are also a harsh reminder that most of these species are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and human use. The Gila monster, for instance, is threatened by land development and wildlife trade. Conservation of these species and their habitats is not only a conservation issue, it is an issue of future medical advancement as well.

Amid the ongoing Covid-19 scare in the UK, in another news, two species of disease-carrying mosquito have been also found there. These two species are now being found as a result of climate change, scientists too have warned against the same.

Aedes aegypti, also known as the Egyptian mosquito, and Aedes albopictus, also known as the (Asian) tiger or forest mosquito, both known for carrying diseases like yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, Zika and dirofilariasis have been detected in surveillance traps set by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). This was revealed in the UKHSA peer-reviewd study on invasive mosquito surveillance.

The Egyptian mosquito eggs were detected in a freight storage facility near London's Heathrow Airport, in September 2023- and tiger mosquitoes were detcted in August 2024. This will be the first time that the tiger mosquitoes have been detected since 2019, at a motorway srvice station in Kent.

The study published in research journal PLOS Global Public Health, reported the findings were lead by UKHSA and the Centre for Climate and Health Security.

What Has Changed Now?

Historically, both these species were limited to subtropical and tropical regions, however, among the populations established in southerns and central Europe, the mosquitoes have shown its ability to survive in temperate climates.

Rising temperature is said to be one of the major reasons for incursion of invasive species. This has put new populations at risk of disease transmission.

The authors of the study said, "While there is currently no evidence that Ae. albopictus or Ae. aegypti are widely established in the UK, without timely action, the UK faces the risk of invasive mosquito populations becoming established... proactive measures enhance resilience against emerging vector borne disease risks."

Call To Action

In addition to monitoring at ports and transport hubs across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the UKHSA has also set up traps in the Kent marshes—considered an ideal spot for mosquitoes to settle due to its warm, wet conditions.

The UKHSA has also run Mosquito Recoding Scheme (MRS). This is a citizen-science project that receives and identifies mosquitoes submitted by members of public, including in response to nuisance biting incidents. Between 2005 and 2021, 286 reports of mosquitoes were submitted to the MRS, all of which were native UK species.

The aim of the scheme is to detect unusual or invasive species of mosquito, so prevention tactics could be put to use.

Collin Johnson, the lead author of the study and a senior medical entomologist at the UKHSA, said for the 2023 and 2024 discoveries: "Each detection triggered enhanced local surveillance and control measures, and the fact that no further specimens were found suggests these were isolated incursions."

"The collaborative efforts between UKHSA, local authorities and landowners were key to rapidly mobilising and preventing the establishment of invasive mosquitoes," he said.

More than 90 passengers and crew aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship have fallen ill from Norovirus, as per the reports. This ship's final stop was Miami.

The outbreak on the Royal Caribbean was first reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The ship had departed San Diego on September 19. A total of 94 passenger and 4 crew members were "reported being ill during the voyage," noted the CDC. The main symptoms as per CDC was diarrhea and vomiting.

Other symptoms include muscle ach, abdominal pain, fever, or three or more loose sttols within 24-hour period. From a total of 1,874 passengers and 833 crew, as per the reports, only 4% of people on board were infected, confirmed CDC.

The crew on the ship has increased their cleaning and disinfecting procedures. Stool specimens from gasteointestinal illness have been collected for testing and have been isolated from those who are sick.

In a statement to USA TODAY, the Royal Caribbean said, "The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority. To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines."

The Independent reports that the cruise ship also consulted with the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), which is remotely monitoring the situation, including review of the outbreak, response, and sanitation procedures.

What Is Norovirus?

As per the CDC, it is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. It is commonly called the 'stomach flu" or "stomach bug".

However, norovirus illness is not related to the flu. The flu is caused by the influenza virus. Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach or intestines.

Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days; but they can still spread the virus for a few days after.

What Are The Symptoms Of Norovirus?

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Fever
• Headache
• Body aches
• Dehydration: If you have Norovirus, you can feel extremely ill and dehydrated and the symptoms can show through decreased urination, dry mouth and throat, feeling dizzy when standing up, crying with few or no tears, unusual sleepiness or fussiness.

Who Is At Risk?

• Anyone can get infected and sick with norovirus.
• People of all ages are affected during norovirus outbreaks.
• Genetic factors can partly determine your likelihood of infection.
• Raw oysters and other filter-feeding shellfish may contain viruses and bacteria that cause illness or even death.
• Eating raw shellfish puts anyone at risk of contracting norovirus.
• Children under 5, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop severe infections.

The US government shuts down at midnight confirmed Associated Press. The Vice President JD Vance said, "I think we're headed to a shutdown because the Democrats won't do the right thing," after a meeting where Congressional Democrats refused to give Republicans the votes they needed to pass a short-term funding agreement. The Democrats have demanded overhauls to Medicaid cuts and extensions to health care tax credits, something Republicans wish to stay out of.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said that Republicans are "divorced from reality". He said, "They just wanted to kick the health care problem down the road."

What Does US Government Shutdown Mean For Health Services?

During a shutdown, only 59% of employees would be working at the Department of Health and Human Services. The rest are to be furloughed, meaning to be discharged from their job.

This means, out of the 47,257 employees who would be kept during the shutdown, only 35,000 would be continued to paid, while 12,000 would work without pay. Around 32,460 Health and Human Services (HHS) employees will be discharged from their work.

For the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 36% of employees would work, with 15% without pay, also reported by ABC News. At the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 86% employees would continue to work, with 19% without pay.

What it means for safety guidelines? The FDA's Animal Drugs and Foods Program "would end pre-market safety reviews of novel animal food ingredients for livestock, thus be unable to ensure that the meat, milk, and eggs of livestock are safe for people to eat; activities would be limited to those that address imminent threats to the safety of human life".

The National Institutes of Health would also come down to 24% of employees.

Will Medicare and Medicaid Continue During The US Government Shutdown?

Federal spending's biggest portion which is considered 'mandatory' will remain untouched, including payments by Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

While government officials say that payments won't be affected, related services could, however, slow down, including receiving replacement cards and benefit verification services.

This could also threaten around 7 million low-income women and their children who relied on programs like the Women, Infants. and Children (WIC), a US federal program that provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to healthcare and social services for low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to the age of 5, who are at nutritional risk.

Ali Hard, who is the policy director for the National WIC Association told ABC News that if a shutdown continues for more than a week, WIC may begin to run out of funds.

Why Is The US Government Shutting Down?

The main crux of it could be the disagreement in the health policies. For the extended funding, which would only be possible through cuts in Medicaid, the Senate voted 55-45 on the measure, which has left Republicans five votes short of 60 vote threshold.

President Donald Trump on this said, "They (Democrats) want to give health care to illegal immigrants, which will destroy health care for everybody else in our country."

Previously it happened during the 2018-2019 shutdown, which lasted for 35 days.