In 2004 the pain reliever Prialt became the first fda-approved, commercially available product derived from cone snail toxin. Based on a peptide from a magician cone snail in Olivera's lab, this pain reliever is estimated to be 1,000 times stronger than morphine, without addictive side effects.

Researchers in Mari's lab have identified a cone snail compound that blocks sodium channels, which could help treat multiple sclerosis. But this is just the beginning.

This article was originally published with the title Healing the Brain with Snail Venom.

2 Comments

1. 1. greenhome123 04:15 PM 1/23/13

   wow, 1,000 times stronger than morphine. sounds like some good stuff.

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2. 2. shermhead 02:59 PM 2/4/13

   I wanna eat a bunch of cone snails for fun

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