A venom component from the Taipan, the world’s deadliest snake, is being developed by Brisbane biotechnology company <<>>, as a new drug to treat heart failure.
Current treatments for congestive heart failure (CHF), an often-fatal disease in which the heart is weakened and lacks the strength to adequately pump blood around the body, have serious side effects and do not combat the progression of the disease.
Over 3,000 Australians die as a result of CHF each year with a further 300,000 people affected by the disease.
The project’s principal researcher, heart failure (UQ) <<>> (IMB) Professor Paul Alewood, said a unique set of active molecules had been isolated from taipan venom.
“Initial tests indicate these molecules are extremely effective at easing the heart’s workload,” he said
“In addition to being very effective these molecules are also extremely stable in the body with the therapeutic effect lasting long after administration, two extremely attractive features for new drugs.