Leaping Lizards!

That chemo is toxic (and perhaps not the medicine of choice for treating cancer---I'm leary of having had to undergo it myself) is a truism.  But to my great astonishment, another poison actually finds its way into the anti-diabetes arsenal. Its source is gila monsters (some articles say the drug comes from their saliva, while others cite their venom).  Who'd have thought that such a clunky old lizard could actually benefit sick folk?  But, as with most meds, and poison especially, it's got its drawbacks. 

The paradox of using poison for healing parallels that of so many poisonous animals having a beautiful exterior.  Nature's properties always have a reason, so I'm wondering why poison would be packaged so attractively?  You'd think that, on the contrary, they'd appear as repulsive as possible to keep predators at bay.  Definitely puzzling...