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Drugs from Animal Venom Peptide Toxins

Therapeutic formulations with Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) modeled explicitly on or extracted directly from animal venom toxins. Therapeutics span natural purified toxins, structural synthetic clones, or engineered peptide and small-molecule peptidomimetics.

Ref:

Takacs & Nathan (2014) Animal Venoms in Medicine. Encyclopedia of Toxicology, 3rd ed, Elsevier, Acad. Press.

Takacs (2021) Toxins to drugs - biochemistry and pharmacology. Ch. 42, in: Handbook of Venoms and Toxins of Reptiles., ed. Mackessy SP, CRC Press.

Approved Therapeutics

Generic (Brand) Names Species Origin Pharmacology Clinical Indication Notes
captopril (CAPOTEN®) Vector Icon Jararaca pit viper snake Bothrops jararaca Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor Hypertension, cardiac failure
enalapril (VASOTEC®) Vector Icon Jararaca pit viper snake Bothrops jararaca Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor Hypertension, cardiac failure
lixisenatide (ADLYXIN®) Vector Icon Gila monster lizard Heloderma suspectum Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (extended release) Type 2 diabetes mellitus
ziconotide (PRIALT®) Vector Icon Magus cone snail Conus magus Cav2.2 channel antagonist Management of severe chronic pain
bivalirudin (ANGIOMAX®) Vector Icon European medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis Reversible direct thrombin inhibitor Anticoagulant in percutaneous coronary intervention
lepirudin (REFLUDAN®) Vector Icon European medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis Binds irreversibly to thrombin Anticoagulation in heparin-associated thrombocytopenia; thromboembolic conditions
desirudin (IPRIVASK®) Vector Icon European medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis Selective and near-irreversible thrombin inhibitor Prevention of deep vein thrombosis and associated embolic events
tirofiban (AGGRASTAT®) Vector Icon Saw-scaled viper snake Echis carinatus Antagonist of fibrinogen binding to the GPlIb/IIIa receptor site Acute coronary syndrome
eptifibatide (INTEGRILIN®) Vector Icon Pygmy rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius Prevents binding of fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, and other adhesive ligands to GPIIb/IIIa Acute coronary syndrome; percutaneous coronary intervention
batroxobin (DEFIBRASE®) Vector Icon Common / Brazilian lancehead Bothrops atrox / moojeni Cleaves Aα-chain of fibrinogen Acute cerebral infarction; unspecific angina pectoris; sudden hearing failure
platelet gel (PLATELTEX-ACT®) Vector Icon Common lancehead snake Bothrops atrox Cleaves systemic Aα-chain framework inside fibrinogen Gelification optimization of autologous components for topical procedures
fibrin sealant (VIVOSTAT®) Vector Icon Brazilian lancehead snake Bothrops moojeni Cleaves structural Aα-chain sequence inside fibrinogen targets Autologous system operational matrix closure sealant in complex surgeries
thrombin-like enzymes Vector Icon Moccasin / Pit vipers / Mamushi Deinagkistrodon acutus / Gloydius spp. Fibrinogenase catalyst activity Antithrombotic application; management of complex thromboembolic profiles
hemocoagulase (REPTILASE®) Vector Icon Lancehead species variations Bothrops atrox / jararaca / moojeni Cleaves structural Aα-fibrinogen; system parameter Factor X or prothrombin catalyst Prophylaxis optimization and localized hemorrhagic containment during surgery
medicinal leech therapy Vector Icon European medicinal leech Hirudo verbana / spp. Suppresses normal baseline platelet binding aggregation and cascade steps Microvascular optimization in advanced skin flaps and tissue attachment grafting

Withdrawn Not for Reasons of Safety or Effectiveness

Generic (Brand) Names Species Origin Pharmacology Clinical Indication Notes
exenatide (BYETTA®) Vector Icon Gila monster lizard Heloderma suspectum Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist Type 2 diabetes mellitus
exenatide (BYDUREON®) Vector Icon Gila monster lizard Heloderma suspectum Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (extended release) Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Clinical-Stage Assets

Generic (Brand) Names Species Origin Pharmacology Clinical Indication Notes
Stichodactyla toxin ShK dalazatide / ShK-186 (Kineta) Vector Icon Sun sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus Kv1.3 channel selective blocker antagonist Psoriatic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis autoimmune platforms
chlorotoxin BLZ-100 / TM-601 (Blaze Bio) Vector Icon Deathstalker (Yellow scorpion) Leiurus quinquestriatus Binds membrane type-1 MMP, MMP-2 matrix variants, ClC-3 chloride transport structures Malignant glioma visualization; central nervous system oncological targets
soricidin SOR-C13 (Soricimed) Vector Icon Northern short-tailed shrew Blarina brevicauda Target-selective inhibitor of the transient receptor channel TRPV6 configuration Advanced ovarian carcinoma and associated specialized solid tumor profiles
Hi1a IB409 Vector Icon K'gari funnel-web spider Hadronyche infensa Acid sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) inhibitor Myocardial infarction; acute ischemic stroke mitigation

Discontinued Clinical Programs

Generic (Brand) Names Species Origin Pharmacology Clinical Indication Notes
Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide cenderitide / CD-NP (Capricor) Vector Icon Eastern green mamba snake Dendroaspis angusticeps Suppresses structural binding aggregation paths and cascades congestive cardiac failure Phase 2, 2017 Feb
Desmodus rotundus plasminogen desmoteplase / DSPA (Lundbeck) Vector Icon Common vampire bat Desmodus rotundus Plasminogen activator a1 with high fibrin affinity specificity acute ischemic stroke Phase 3, 2014 Dec