Gene Mutation Could Spawn Powerful Anti-Diabetes Drug

Genetic research has yielded what scientists believe could be an extremely powerful weapon in the fight against type 2 diabetes. A rare mutation has been found that slashes the risk of diabetes by around two-thirds, even in obese people, the New York Times reports. The mutation, which destroys a gene linked to diabetes risk, was found when researchers studied the genes of a group of people who did not have diabetes despite being overweight smokers and drinkers with an average age of around 80.

Scientists say the research could lead to a drug that mimics the mutation's effect, providing a bonanza for drugmaker Pfizer, which funded the research, though it could take more than a decade to develop a drug and get it to market. "Human genetics is not just a tool for understanding biology," a professor at Harvard Medical School tells Bloomberg. "It can also powerfully inform drug discovery by addressing one of the most challenging and important questions—knowing which targets to go after." (More diabetes stories.)