Spider Venom May Yield New Pain Relievers

Spiders, an unwelcome guest in many homes, could gain a new reputation — as a welcome source of pain relief. Spider venom contains thousands of proteins, among them some helpful molecules that may someday be made into powerful painkillers. Such products could greatly benefit millions of chronic-pain sufferers whose discomfort does not respond to any of the usual medications. In the U.S. alone, the costs of chronic pain are estimated to top $600 billion a year in lost productivity and...

© La Voix de l'Amérique - mercredi 4 mars 2015