Cone Snail Venom Can Treat Chronic Pain
Even when conditions are ideal, the ocean is a hostile environment. There is always a chance of drowning, and no one needs to be warned about sharks any longer, but that is only the beginning of the dangers. You can die from ocean snails as well. Cone snail venom can kill you if left untreated in as little as one hour. As risky as that may sound, the information is priceless. Cone snail venom is also an effective anti-cancer and painkiller.
Cancer, endocrine diseases, as well as acute and persistent pain, can all be treated with one of the several substances found in the venom of specific snails. Somatostatin is a hormone and neuropeptide that is also produced by humans. Chemically similar, but much more stable, substance is produced by snails. The half-life of the human version is only three minutes. A snail lasts for over a week.
Existing painkillers like Prialt, which are derived from snail venom, are difficult to administer since they must be injected into the spine. However, they are even more potent than morphine, thus it is hoped that the administration of them can be enhanced in the future.
