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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Painful snake bites may hold clues to developing analgesic drugs.

Cone snail venom researcher Mandë Holford discusses the therapeutic potential of toxins found in animals.