The Conus venom was known to kill by blocking specific pathways in the brain that are necessary in order for neurons to fire. With a few alterations, however, Neurex scientists created Ziconotide, a drug that only slightly inhibits those pathways. Instead of shutting brain cells down, it seems to merely mute their excitability. In initial clinical trials, Ziconotide effectively controlled chronic pain from cancer and from AIDS. Another new generation analgesic in development is Abbott Laboratories’ ABT-594, a compound related to a poison secreted by an Ecuadorian
