I have recently heard that there has been a new pancreas hormone/enzyme. What is it? How does it work?

You may be thinking of pancreatic polypeptide which is found mostly in the islet cells and has a so far ill-defined role in regulating appetite and gastric emptying. You can find quite a number of recent abstracts on this subject at PubMed.

DOB

[Editor’s comment: Or maybe you’ve heard of amylin, a hormone secreted with insulin by the beta cells in the pancreas. Symlin (pramlintide acetate) is a synthetic analog of the human hormone amylin. The manufacturer, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA in December 2000 and received an approvable letter in October 2001 subject to additional clinical work. Marketing Authorization Applications for Symlin were submitted in Europe in May 2001 and have since been accepted for filing by the EMEA and Swiss Regulatory Authorities.

WWQ]