AUSTRALIAN spiders possess some of the strongest arachnid venom in the world – so it’s nice to know they can be used for good.

University of Queensland researchers have started clinical trials to assess the safety, tolerability, and dosage of IB409, a novel drug developed from a molecule in the venom of the funnel-web.

The drug is designed to protect patients’ hearts and brains during heart attacks and strokes, and could potentially save millions of lives.

Researchers have previously recorded “exceptionally promising” preclinical results with a protein called Hi1a, which was derived from the venom of a funnel-web spider from K’gari.

If the drug is successful and becomes approved for use, it’s likely to be administered by paramedics and medical practitioners to provide early protection to patients suffering heart attacks and strokes.

Venomous creatures, including snakes, spiders and even cone shells, have been the source of numerous medicines in use or in development.

The very first modern drug inspired by venom was captopril, an ACE inhibitor mainly used to treat hypertension and kidney conditions, and was based on a peptide from the jararaca, a Brazilian snake.

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