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Sea Snail Toxin Offers Promise For Pain

Posted by kdawson on from the take-two-drops-and-call-me-in-the-morning dept.

Khyber writes to tell us about research out of Australia that holds out hope for chronic pain sufferers. The toxin of a sea snail, called conotoxin, has a component that has been shown to directly target pain receptors in experimental animals. Unlike essentially all existing pain relievers, conotoxin seems to suppress pain without side effects. Human trials are a year away.

1 of 206 comments (clear)

  1. Bad idea? by phantomcircuit · · Score: 0, Redundant

    It should be noted that this toxin has been known to have a slight side effect in large doses.

    Specifically DEATH.