Fresh Science

Alexander Mueller – PhD candidate, University of Queensland

Developing safe and effective painkillers from tarantula venom

A new painkiller developed from tarantula spider venom holds potential for relieving pain without causing side-effects.

The painkiller, developed by University of Queensland scientists, has the potential to reduce the huge social and economic impacts of pain which costs the Australian economy $78 billion annually.

The drug, which blocks specialised pain sensing nerves, has been successfully trialled in mice suffering post-surgical pain.

“Ultimately, this drug may replace our current opioid-based drugs, which cause severe, even deadly side-effects,” says Alexander Mueller.

Written by Alexander Mueller and edited by Econnect Communication.