IDEA #5C7D2L Terebrid venom peptides with analgesic properties. 22A0015

The venom peptides identified in the Holford Laboratory from predatory terebrid snails will be used to screen in zebrafish models to identify analgesic molecules that can be further developed for treating pain. Ziconotide, the only analgesic snail venom peptide that has been developed as a drug, has a very invasive spinal tap drug delivery method that limits its use. Building on preliminary results from our research, we will address this challenge by identifying and characterizing new venom peptides from terebrid snails (teretoxins) that are peripherally active analgesic compounds. The opioid epidemic has increased the urgency for discovering new pain therapeutics that are nonaddictive, but widespread application of peptide therapeutics that can address this problem is hampered by the lack of effective analgesic peptide drug discovery and mechanism of action characterization methods. Since 1999 there has been a substantial increase in deaths due to drug overdose from addiction to opioid painkillers. The opioid epidemic has ravaged the lives of many pain patients to the extent that the US Congress has developed a bipartisan bill to stem the tide of the crisis. This expanding epidemic demands the discovery and characterization of new molecules with nonaddictive mechanisms for treating pain.