The Ultimate None Addictive Pain-killer ?, page 1

A Philippino born scientist, Professor Baldomera Olivera .Working at the university of Utah has invented a drug called Ziconotide, a synthetic version of a deadly sea snail toxin . The drug , developed from the venom of the 'conus magus ' , the magician cone snail and said to be 1000 times more potent than morphine is reportedly nonaddictive .
The venom was discovered over 25 years ago by Michael McIntosh , and there are over 500 different toxins , which may produce other spin off therapies for such conditions as Parkinson's disease .
The pain-killers has just been licensed for European markets under the trade name "prialt " .

today.reuters.com
LONDON, July 10 (Reuters) - A new pain drug based on the venom of a deadly sea snail was launched in Britain on Monday, offering hope to patients with chronic pain who do not respond to or cannot tolerate treatments like morphine.

The drug is the synthetic equivalent of a substance produced by the predatory cone snail Conus magus, found off the Philippines, which uses it in a venomous "harpoon" to paralyse fish.

In humans, it shuts down pain pathways by stopping nerve cells from sending signals to the brain.

The drug is extremely potent and can cause side effects including dizziness, nausea and blurred vision.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

This is absolutely fabulous news for chronic pain sufferers , for whom morphine cannot be used as a safe long term analgesic .
www.timesonline.co.uk

[edit on 10-7-2006 by DontTreadOnMe]

[edit on 21-7-2006 by DontTreadOnMe]