Weight-loss drugs inspired by lizard spit is a revolution few saw coming

What began with a curious discovery in lizard saliva has become one of the biggest shifts in modern medicine. GLP-1 receptor drugs, now widely associated with weight loss, are changing how doctors understand obesity, inflammation and chronic disease.

Specialist physician and pulmonologist Dr Anton Meyberg says the excitement is justified. “These drugs are extremely good to help people with weight loss,” he explains, noting that they work by slowing stomach emptying and signalling fullness to the brain.

But he cautions against the idea of a miracle cure. “Everyone is looking for that magic bullet. There is no golden chalice.”

Not a shortcut to health

Meyberg stresses that medication alone is not enough. “Just because you’re on a drug doesn’t mean you are going to lose weight and be healthy,” he says.

Patients still need structured nutrition plans, regular exercise and lifestyle changes.

Without that, he warns, weight is likely to return once the medication stops. “You’ve got to train your body, train your mind and train your eating habits.”

Beyond weight loss

Researchers are now investigating whether GLP-1 drugs could help treat other inflammatory conditions, including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and even neurodegenerative diseases.

“These drugs don’t only act on starvation centres,” Meyberg explains. “They act towards decreasing inflammation in the body.” Early studies are exploring potential benefits for conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

As a pulmonologist, he sees promise for lung disease, too. “Asthma is an inflammatory lung disease. I do think there’s going to be a time where these drugs help with multiple problems, not just obesity.”

Risks, side effects and caution

Like all medications, GLP-1 drugs come with risks. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly early in treatment. There are also important contraindications, including certain cancers and upcoming surgery.

“It’s important to tell your doctor if you’re on these drugs,” Meyberg says, warning that delayed stomach emptying can increase the risk of complications under anaesthetic.

That’s why he insists that patients must be properly assessed. “You need to be aware and educated before you go on them.”

An elite drug?

Perhaps the biggest concern is access. At present, many medical aids do not cover GLP-1 drugs, placing them out of reach for most South Africans.

“Obesity is a chronic, complex disease,” Meyberg says, arguing that people with serious health risks deserve to be on this drug. “It should not be an elite drug. It should be an all-access drug.”

A public health question

With obesity rates soaring globally, Meyberg believes the cost debate misses the bigger picture. “That’s a pandemic,” he says, pointing to rising links with diabetes, heart disease and pressure on health systems.

“The question should be: can the state afford not to provide them?” he adds. In the long term, wider access could reduce hospital admissions and healthcare costs.

For now, the promise is real, but so are the limits. As Meyberg puts it: “It’s an exciting time in medicine, if we use these tools properly.”

For more details, listen to Meyberg using the audio player below: