PARIS: Spider venom may contain a long-sought secret ingredient for an effective, long-term painkiller, rese­archers said on Wednesday.

In lab-dish tests, seven compounds obtained from venom blocked a protein crucial for transmitting the sensation of pain to the human brain.

“The hunt for a medicine based on just one of these compounds, which would open up a new class of potent painkillers, is now a step closer,” said a statement issued with the study published by the British Journal of Pharmacology.

The poison arachnids use to kill their prey contains molecules that can impair proteins transporting signals between the nerves and the brain.If it could be targeted and controlled, this “off switch” may be the solution for millions of chronic pain sufferers.

One protein in particular, dubbed Nav1.7, is believed to be the “channel “essential for transmitting pain signals in humans.

“Previous research shows indifference to pain among people who lack Nav1.7 channels due to a naturally-occurring genetic mutation — so blocking these channels has the potential of turning off pain in people with normal pain pathways,” said study leader Glenn King from the University of Queensland, Australia.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2015

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