Poison to become medicine

Scorpions are well-known for the sting in their tail - but the venom could form the basis of new medicines capable of replacing dangerous and addictive painkillers.

The compounds – peptide toxins – show high effectiveness and specificity for sodium channels in the nervous and muscular systems. Some of these channels communicate pain and a scientist from Tel Aviv University is hoping these toxins could lead to medicines capable of replacing painkillers like morphine.
“We are trying to understand how toxins in the venom interact with sodium channels at the molecular level,” said Professor Michael Gurevitz from the university’s department of plant sciences. “If we figure this out, we may be able to slightly modify such toxins, making them more potent and specific for certain pain medicating sodium channels.”
Gurevitz is working with the Israeli yellow scorpion – one of the most potent in the world. Its venom contains more than 300 peptides and a large number of active components that have diversified over millions of years – some to directly affect mammalian sodium channels.
Using an approach called biomimicry, Gurevitz is trying to develop painkillers that mimic bioactive components of the venom. Using nature as a model, he will alter elements of the venom to create an effective painkiller with few or no side effects.
“Instead of running the risk of addiction, this venom-derived drug, mimicking the small peptide toxin, would do what it needs to do and then pass from the body with no traces or side effects,” Gurevits said. He believes the drugs could be used serious burns and cuts, in the military and in aftermath of earthquakes and natural disasters.