Sea Snail Venom Offers New Hope for Diabetes Treatment

Researchers discover a potent toxin in cone snails that mimics and surpasses human hormones in stability and specificity.

Scientists identified a toxin in the geography cone snail's venom that acts like somatostatin, a hormone regulating blood sugar.
The snail-produced toxin, consomatin, targets specific proteins with greater precision than human somatostatin, reducing side effects.
Consomatin's stability and resistance to breakdown make it a promising candidate for long-lasting diabetes medications.
The discovery opens the door to potentially finding other glucose-regulating toxins in cone snail venom.
Researchers highlight the evolutionary precision of venomous animals as a valuable resource for drug development.