
Cone Snails’ Toxic Venom Could Aid in Pain Relief
Cone snails are renowned for their venom, a complex cocktail of peptides that can paralyze prey in a matter of seconds. Yet, it is these very peptides that have become valuable tools in the realm of pain management. Some cone snail venom components, such as Ziconotide, block specific ion channels in neurons responsible for transmitting pain signals. This selective targeting of pain pathways has led to the development of medications that offer relief for chronic pain sufferers, often when other treatments prove ineffective.