Betatrophin, also designated as TD26, re-feeding induced fat and liver (RIFL), lipasin, angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) and chromosome 19 open reading frame 80 (C19orf80), has been identified and characterized by several groups, and shows promise as a therapeutic agent for metabolic syndrome and Type II diabetes. The gene discussed is ANGPTL8; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.