Minutus

Scientists use botulism toxin as a painkiller
By Steve Connor, Science Editor
Published: 08 September 2001
The most deadly toxin known to science is being developed into a drug
for treating chronic pain.

The most deadly toxin known to science is being developed into a drug
for treating chronic pain. Early results of laboratory trials show
that one dose of the prototype, which is based on the botulism
poison, can provide pain relief for weeks and even months.

Treating chronic pain effectively with no side-effects is one of the
most difficult areas in medicine, but scientists at the Government's
Centre for Applied Microbiology Research at Porton Down in Wiltshire
believe the botulism toxin can succeed where other drugs have failed.

Dr Keith Foster, the centre's programme director of toxins, told the
British Association Science Festival yesterday of a study in which
the toxin produced by the botulinum bacteria had been modified by
molecular engineering to produce an agent that specifically blocked
the body's pain nerves.

"We have results which indicate there is in fact a potential to
target the toxin to nerves responsible for pain and block their
function for many weeks," Dr Foster said. "This opens up the
possibility of developing novel pharmaceuticals for the treatment of
chronic pain."

Botulinum poisons work as neurotoxins, acting on the molecular
mechanism that allows signals to be passed between nerves and
muscles. Dr Foster said further work would be needed before clinical
trials on humans could be started.

The problem is that, used in this way, botulism is not curing anything,
either. While sometimes pain relief is a good goal in itself, usually
you would want to also cure the underlying reason for the pain.
Well-chosen homeopathic remedy would be doing both at once!
Shannon