Toxin from rattlesnake venom may treat chronic pain – new research

Crotoxin, extracted from the venom of a species of South American rattlesnake, has been studied for decades as a potential painkiller and anti-inflammatory agent. But it is so toxic that it has been impossible to use. Until now.

New research by a team from Brazil shows that crotoxin’s therapeutic effects can be enhanced and its toxicity reduced when it is surrounded by a type of silica.

So far the combined drug has been tested regarding neuropathic pain and next on the agenda is pain from multiple sclerosis and inflammatory arthritis.

Quite a lot of work needs to be done, however, before the combination can become medication. One of the research team comments:

“I’ve been studying crotoxin since 2011. The results are positive in terms of its analgesic effect, but its toxicity has always been a constraint. Using silica was a great idea. This is the first time the two molecules have been combined. Crotoxin is a large molecule with a complex structure that’s hard to replicate in the laboratory, so scaled-up use is a long way off.”

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