Scientists are one step closer in their quest to transform spider venom into a treatment for erectile dysfunction.
The Brazilian wandering spider is considered one of the most dangerous arachnids for people due to the potency of its venom.
A sting causes extreme pain and swelling, loss of muscle control and breathing problems, with the risk of paralysis and eventual suffocation without treatment.
But an unusual aspect of the venom has sparked scientific curiosity for decades.
Men who are bitten may experience unwanted erections that last for hours.
The Brazilian wandering spider is considered one of the most dangerous arachnids for people due to its powerful venom that has strange side effects that cause long-lasting erections in men.
Now scientists are preparing to launch the latest clinical trials to test whether the venom could really be a new treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Participants will not receive the poison directly, but rather a single component that scientists believe is responsible for its strange side effect.
Called BZ371A, this part of the venom increases blood flow throughout the body.
In nature this makes the spider bite more deadly as it causes the venom to spread faster through the body.
But in isolation it could give hope to millions of men suffering from erectile dysfunction.
Researchers at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil have already completed a phase one safety trial of BZ371A for men and women.
This was to help ensure that the compound, now isolated from the other dangerous parts of spider venom, would not cause any harmful effects.
A separate pilot trial conducted again in both men and women found that topical application of BZ371A resulted in an increase in blood flow to the applied area and, in the case of men, this facilitated erection.
Now researchers are planning a new trial to test BZ371A in men who have undergone surgical removal of the prostate due to cancer.
These patients can commonly suffer from erectile dysfunction problems as a result of the surgery and the resulting damage to the tissues in that area of the body.
BZ371A is expected to eventually lead to a new erectile dysfunction drug.
Although there are already medications of this type, the most famous of which is Viagra, not all men can take them.
It is estimated that approximately one in three men cannot take existing erectile dysfunction medications due to health problems that would make their use dangerous.
Scientists working on BZ371A hope their compound will help these men in particular, although more trials are needed.
Professor María Elena de Lima, a biochemistry expert at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, said the research demonstrated the value of preserving species like the Brazilian wandering spider.
“This helps demonstrate why it is necessary to preserve our fauna: it is an inexhaustible source of bioactive molecules and we do not know even 1 percent of this potential,” he said.
Researchers also hope to one day examine whether BZ371A can also one day be used to help women suffering from sexual dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction is a common condition in men, especially those over 40 years of age.
It has a variety of causes, the most common being stress, fatigue, excessive alcohol consumption or a side effect of some medications.
While it’s usually nothing serious, men are encouraged to talk to their GP, but repeatedly struggle to get or maintain an erection to rule out something sinister, such as high blood pressure or a hormonal problem.
