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A cornucopia of toxins in the animal kingdom could provide inspiration for novel painkillers, but so far, effective drugs have proven elusive.  

Studying cone snail venom has yielded novel pain pathways, but the peptides that function as toxins are difficult to translate into drugs.

Venomous centipedes may harbor a clue to the creation of a successful pain-killing compound for humans.

Arachnids harbor a plentiful array of molecules that target mammalian pain receptors.

In tiny doses, the pufferfish’s tetrodotoxin can be turned into a pain-relieving ion channel blocker.

Compounds in the arachnids’ venom interact with ion channels to both cause and block pain.

If successful, the treatments could alleviate patients’ pain by reducing inflammation.

Decades after their discovery by bioprospectors, amphibian-derived analgesics continue to attract scientific attention.

Painful snake bites may hold clues to developing analgesic drugs.

Researchers uncover a family of compounds that may be involved in pain transmission.

The goal is to house patients’ follicles in a specially designed tissue matrix and reinsert them after treatment.

Long road trip over the holidays? Endless pipetting at the bench? Here’s how to keep your brain occupied.