by Mary J. Shomon
According to researchers at the University of California/Irvine, the venom of scorpions will eventually become an effective new drug treatment for some common autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and lupus, as well as more than sixty other autoimmune disorders. The drug eventually developed may also be useful in treating organ transplant patients, who typically require treatment to prevent rejection of transplanted organs.
Writing in the July 3, 2000 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the scientists claim that a chemical contained in the venom can suppress the immune system's T-cells. T-cells trigger the autoimmune process, by which the body perceives its own cells and organs as "invaders" and attacks them.
| Do You Have an Autoimmune Condition? Seemingly unrelated or vague symptoms -- such as fatigue, joint/muscle pain, changes in your hair or skin, moodiness, depression, or weight fluctuations -- may actually be signs of an autoimmune condition such as Hashimoto's Disease, Lupus, Diabetes, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or Multiple Sclerosis, among others. Find out more about autoimmune disease by reading about these often elusive conditions, or fill out our Autoimmune Symptoms and Conditions Checklist |
TRAM-34, the working name for the scorpion venom drug for autoimmune diseases, is not likely become an available drug for around 10 years. Before it reaches the market, the drug needs to be patented, and financing of as much as $500 million for development and testing needs to be identified.
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