Which cone snail's venom is the source of the painkiller Prialt?

The venom of the cone snail Conus magus is the source of the painkiller Prialt.

Prialt is the brand name for ziconotide, a synthetic version of a peptide toxin originally isolated from Conus magus. This marine snail uses a venom-filled harpoon-like tooth to immobilize prey, and its venom contains many highly specialized compounds that target nerve signaling.

Ziconotide works by blocking N-type voltage-gated calcium channels in neurons. These channels help transmit pain signals, so suppressing them can provide powerful relief for severe, chronic pain that has not responded adequately to other treatments. The drug is delivered directly into the cerebrospinal fluid through an intrathecal pump because it is not effective when simply swallowed and can cause serious side effects.

The discovery story is closely associated with University of Utah researcher Baldomero Olivera, whose interest in cone-snail toxins helped launch a major field of venom-based drug discovery. Prialt received U.S. approval in December 2004. It is not made from harvested venom; the active molecule is manufactured synthetically.