http://www.smh.com.au/national/chron...317-34y5l.html

Chronic pain relief: Scientists trial non-addictive drug from snail venom

A new drug extracted from snail venom could provide a breakthrough in treating severe chronic pain without the risk of addiction and dangerous side effects, researchers have found.

The venom - considered 100 times stronger than morphine - could lead to the development of a new class of oral drugs used to relieve nerve pain associated with injury, cancer, AIDS and other diseases.

''It's a very exciting discovery which has the potential to be a blueprint for other protein-based medication,'' David Craik, lead researcher and professor of biomolecular structure at the University of Queensland, said.

The prototype drug, which has been tested on rats, is taken from carnivorous tropical marine cone snails, which use their venom to paralyse their prey. The venom contains hundreds of peptides, or ''mini proteins'', known as conotoxins, which have a pain-killing effect.

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''Snails have had 60 million years of evolution to fine-tune their venom, which contains some very powerful molecules,'' said Professor Craik, who will present his findings at an American Chemical Society meeting this week.

''If we can tap into that then it saves us having to do the hard work that evolution has already done for us,'' he said.

A preliminary study using tiny proteins from the venom ''appears to significantly reduce pain'' in lab rats, he said. ''Our digestive system is designed to break down proteins. What we've done is taken a protein and re-enginered it to make it stable enough to work orally.''

Only one conotoxin-derived drug, ziconotide, has been approved for human use but it must be injected into the spine.

Sounds promising, but there are downsides to venom derived drugs.

There is Byetta, a reptile (gila monster) venom derivation= pancreatitis for diabetes.

the ziconotide mentioned in the article causes psychosis in enough people to discourage its use --which needs an implantable device to pump the drug into the spine.

Lisinopril is one of several ACE drugs derived from S.American snake venom... causes severe reactions in people --myself included.

Here is an interesting link that goes into more detail about venom derived drugs:
http://www.bachem.com/research-produ...y-with-venoms/

These peptides appear to be complex and have side effects more so than traditional drugs we currently use.

Carnivorous SNAILS? Visions of Monty Python and the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog...

Disclaimer: Some may find disturbing/offensive.

Doc

This is hilarious! lol

You have to wonder how they even approve this stuff with so many side effects

I live about 10min drive from University of Queensland.

Wondering how I'd go about getting my name down on his list of human test subjects.

?Craik, lead researcher and professor of biomolecular structure at the University of Queensland, said."

easy, call the uni and ask for the professors email, or ask to talk him or go there with this article and talk direct

Thank you Zorro.