Australian researchers are working on a new drug made from cone snail venom, which would serve as a powerful and non-addictive pain killer. The drug is said to be 100 times more potent than morphine or gabapentine.
The snail’s venom contains a protein that has been used to form five experimental compounds. A preliminary study on lab rats “appeared to significantly reduce pain,” said a press release from the University of Queensland, where the research is being conducted.
“This is an important incremental step that could serve as the blueprint for the development of a whole new class of drugs capable of relieving one of the most severe forms of chronic pain that is currently very difficult to treat,” David Craik, lead researcher, said.
This drug would be the first of its kind that can be taken orally by humans.
“We don’t know about side effects yet, as it hasn’t been tested in humans. But we think it would be safe,” Craik said. He added that the research team is about two years away from doing human trials.
(By Marissa Brassfield for CalorieLab)
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