'Viagra' from spider toxin under development

Move over, Viagra. A toxin from a spider is showing potential to address erectile dysfunction in aging humans —possibly in as little as 15 to 20 minutes.

 

A study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine suggests that the toxin from the Brazilian wandering spider may help treat this condition, the Huffington Post reported.

 

The study by the team of Brazilian and American scientists showed the toxin PnTx2-6 "improved" erectile function when it was tested on aged rats.

 

Study co-author Dr. Kenia Nunes was quoted in the report as telling MSNBC this may help patients who do not respond to drugs like Viagra, which use different pathways.

 

While the exotic Brazilian wandering spider's venom is potentially lethal due to the neurotoxin PhTx3, it also produces priapism, a usually painful erection.

 

In its study, the team said the toxin boosted the availability of nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow.

 

They noted age-associated erectile dysfunction involves a decrease in the availability of nitric oxide along with impaired relaxation.

 

"(But the) decrease in erectile function associated with age was partially restored 15 to 20 minutes after injection with PnTx2-6," they added.

 

2010 study

 

The Huffington Post said the findings follow a 2010 study of PnTx2-6 administered to rats. Nunes also co-authored that study.

 

In the study, Nunes said that in Brazil, "we have several reports of human accidents involving this spider and priapism as a symptom.”

 

“So we started to investigate which part of the venom – which toxin – would be responsible for this symptom. We found the toxin responsible and performed experiments using hypertensive rats which have severe erectile dysfunction. The toxin was able to normalize the erectile function in these animals,” Nunes said.

 

After isolating the PnTx2-6 toxin, Nunes and her colleagues then studied the mechanism of action and found that the toxin acts in a different pathway compared to Viagra.

 

As such, she said this "could be an optional treatment" for patients who do not respond to Viagra. — TJD, GMA News