Puffer fish toxin to be used in creating pain killers

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The Japanese puffer fish Fugu, which contains a powerful neurotoxin, is currently being researched by scientists to be made into medication for pain relief.

Fugu is a poisonous pufferfish but when prepared right, it is a fancy delicacy prepared by licensed Japanese chefs. The ovaries are especially dangerous, as well as the liver and intestines. When not handled and prepared carefully, the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin can cause paralysis of voluntary muscles which can lead to respiratory failure and subsequently, death. According to a report by BBC, fugu pufferfish is more poisonous than cyanide. The poisoning from tetrodotoxin from the fish is "rapid and violent." There is currently no antidote for the poison.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Astellas Pharma Inc. has signed a $515 million deal with Chromocell Corp. to create and market new medication that targets various pain conditions and neuropathies. The companies are aiming to extract and use the fish poison the same way it poisons the body but only focusing on pain messages instead, including the particular cell channel Nav1.7.

"Everybody knows that if you could block NaV1.7, you would have a very effective drug," said Christian Kopfli, chief executive officer for Chromocell. "They have to be very, very specific. ... Side effects are a big threat to the program."

This approach in using toxins for medicinal use is not new. According to Fortune, one of the most well-known therapeutic poisons is botulinum toxin (Botox) and it is used for cosmetic purposes.

According to the report by GEN, drug developers have taken interest in Nav1.7 over the years. On Sept. 22, Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma collaborated with Californian Biotechnology Company AnaBios Corporation to develop Nav1.7 compounds for chronic pain relief. In July this year, XRpro Sciences also obtained Pfizer's ion channel assets including Icagen.

Once Chromocell files the IND for CC8464, the oral compound that can inhibit the NaV1.7 ion channel in 2016, and commercialize it successfully, Astellas will pay the company in royalties on sales on top of the signed deal.

"Astellas expects to provide a new therapeutic option to neuropathic and other pain conditions with high unmet medical needs by the collaboration to develop CC8464, and to make further contributions to the treatment of patients with pain conditions," said Dr. Kenji Yasukawa, chief strategy officer for Astellas.

Chromocell's field of focus is in pain treatments, and neuroscience. Meanwhile, Astellas focus on neurology, nephrology, immunology, urology and oncology.