Dr. Eng began his career as a practicing physician and researcher at the Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, working under Nobel Prize recipient Dr. Rosalyn S. Yalow. With research funds from the VA, the two investigated hormones from animals such as chinchillas and guinea pigs.

Dr. Eng investigated lizard venoms and in 1992, discovered a new compound in the Gila monster’s venom, which he named Exendin-4. The compound stimulates insulin-producing cells in the pancreas to produce more insulin when glucose levels are high, thus keeping the body’s blood sugar levels at a steady, normal level while minimizing the risk of levels going too low, compared to an insulin shot. To gain notice for his discovery, Dr. Eng submitted a poster at the American Diabetes Association annual meeting in 1996, where he caught the attention of a small biotechnology company, Amylin Pharmaceuticals.

The new drug, exenatide, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005, and has proved to be a treatment that helps diabetics manages their chronic condition. Today Byetta and the subsequent drugs in this class are being used by millions of diabetes patients across the world and are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists or Injectable Incretins.