Leconotide (
INN; development codes CNSB004 and AM336; also known as ω-conotoxin CVID) is an
ω-conotoxin peptide
Peptides (, ) are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Long chains of amino acids are called proteins. Chains of fewer than twenty amino acids are called oligopeptides, and include dipeptides, tripeptides, and tetrapeptides. ...
isolated from the
venom
Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a st ...
of ''
Conus catus'' which is under investigation as an
analgesic
An analgesic drug, also called simply an analgesic (American English), analgaesic (British English), pain reliever, or painkiller, is any member of the group of drugs used to achieve relief from pain (that is, analgesia or pain management). It ...
drug
A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. Consumption of drugs can be via inhala ...
for the treatment of
pain conditions.
It acts as an
N-type voltage-gated calcium channel (Ca
v2.2)
blocker and is highly selective for this channel over the related
P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel (Ca
v2.1).
Relative to
ziconotide
Ziconotide (SNX–111; Prialt), also called intrathecal ziconotide (ITZ) because of its administration route, is an atypical analgesic agent for the amelioration of severe and chronic pain. Derived from ''Conus magus'', a cone snail, it is the ...
, leconotide is advantageous in that it is significantly less
toxic
Toxicity is the degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances can damage an organism. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a sub ...
, and for that reason can be administered
intravenous
Intravenous therapy (abbreviated as IV therapy) is a medical technique that administers fluids, medications and nutrients directly into a person's vein. The intravenous route of administration is commonly used for rehydration or to provide nutrie ...
ly as opposed to via
intrathecal injection.
See also
*
Ziconotide
Ziconotide (SNX–111; Prialt), also called intrathecal ziconotide (ITZ) because of its administration route, is an atypical analgesic agent for the amelioration of severe and chronic pain. Derived from ''Conus magus'', a cone snail, it is the ...
, an analgesic peptide derived from the toxin of the cone snail species ''
Conus magus
''Conus magus'', common name the magical cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Like all species within the genus ''Conus'', these snails are predatory and venomous. ...
''
*
Lacosamide
Lacosamide, sold under the brand name Vimpat among others, is a medication used for the treatment of partial-onset seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. It is used by mouth or intravenously.
It is available as a generic medic ...
, an approved small molecule analgesic and anti-epileptic
*
Ralfinamide, an investigational small molecule analgesic
References
Analgesics
Calcium channel blockers
Peptides
{{analgesic-stub