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A salute to innovation: exenatide in diabetes and obesity drug development at Amylin Pharmaceuticals

Nature Metabolism volume 7, pages 1960–1962 (2025)Cite this article

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The glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) class of medicines has emerged as transformative for the treatment of diabetes, obesity and other diseases. On the twentieth anniversary of the approval of exenatide (Byetta), three former employees of Amylin Pharmaceuticals acknowledge the contributions of some of the individuals and the innovation responsible for delivering the first approved GLP-1RA — the forerunner to the modern blockbuster drugs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eli Lilly, Boston, MA, USA

    James L. Trevaskis

  2. DGP Scientific Inc., San Diego, CA, USA

    David G. Parkes

  3. i2O Therapeutics, Boston, MA, USA

    Andrew A. Young

Authors
  1. James L. Trevaskis
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  2. David G. Parkes
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  3. Andrew A. Young
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James L. Trevaskis.

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Competing interests

All authors are former employees of Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. J.L.T is an employee and shareholder of Eli Lilly and Co. A.A.Y is an employee of i20 Therapeutics. D.G.P. receives consulting fees from Epirium, Prolynx, Neurocrine, Pioneering Medicine and UCSD.

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Trevaskis, J.L., Parkes, D.G. & Young, A.A. A salute to innovation: exenatide in diabetes and obesity drug development at Amylin Pharmaceuticals. Nat Metab 7, 1960–1962 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-025-01383-x

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