Drugs from the peptide venoms of marine cone shells.

Australian cone shell venoms are being investigated as an exciting new source of bioactive peptides as part of a new collaborative project between the 3D Centre and AMRAD. Initial studies have already revealed a number of new and novel acting peptides amongst the hundred or so small, heavily constrained peptides present in the venom of each cone shell. The aim of the project is to develop peptidomimetic drugs based on a selection of these native peptides.