Tuesday, July 11, 2006

BBC NEWS | Snail venom painkiller launched

Prialt is a strong painkiller designed for patients suffering from chronic pain who cannot tolerate treatments like morphine.

It is based on a toxin produced by a species of snail from the Philippines.

The snail uses venom to paralyze passing fish, but scientists found chemicals in the poison could also block pain signals in the human brain.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5165124.stm

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