You probably don't want a poisonous spider in your home, but spider venom could actually be the key to pain treatment.
A new study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology found that seven compounds found in spider venom blocked a protein that transmits pain sensation between nerves and the brain. "The hunt for a medicine based on just one of these compounds, which would open up a new class of potent painkillers, is now a step closer," the study authors said in a statement.
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According to the study authors, 15 percent of adults are affected by chronic pain, and treating chronic pain costs the U.S. $600 billion a year.
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