Experts at the University of Queensland, Australia, have developed medicine based on spider venom which could help treat some forms of genetic epilepsy.
Professor Glenn King from the university’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience developed the medicine using molecules called ‘peptides’ from the venom of the K’gari funnel web spider.
Prof King said: “We believe these venom peptides can be very precise, personalised drugs for specific epilepsy patients.”
Additionally, the researchers are using a synthetic brain ‘organoid’ the size of a lentil to test the medicine. These are produced by Professor Ernst Wolvetang from the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology using stem cell technology.
Precise and tailored
Prof Wolvetang said the venom-derived treatment has “proven efficacy” for some types of genetic epilepsy which are “in dire need” of better medicines.
He said that testing new treatments is challenging for ethical, practical and commercial reasons. Thus, the organoids are an ideal way to speed up the process, he added.
Prof Wolvetang added that these lab-produced organoids help to develop treatments that are more precise and tailored.
Testing the medicine on synthetic organs is also helping to build the case for their use in future testing, Prof Wolvetang added.
Prof King and associate professor Nathan Palpant have previously developed other medicines from the same spider venom. Their treatment for heart disease and stroke is currently being tested.
Prof King will be speaking at Epilepsy Queensland Thinking Outside the Box | 14th Epilepsy Symposium on 15 October.
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