Discovery may help develop drugs for cancer and diabetes

The University of Utah in the United States announced that scientists have made a discovery that may enable them to develop drugs for cancer and diabetes.

“Biologists at our university have discovered that the venom of sea cone snails contains substances that have a rapid action similar to that of insulin, and also contains a substance similar to the human hormone somatostatin, which prevents the body from restoring normal blood sugar levels. This substance will help in the development of new drugs for cancer and diabetes,” the university’s press service said in a statement.

“Many venomous animals on Earth have evolved toxins that affect certain systems in their victims’ bodies. The venom of the cone snail also affects certain systems in the body,” said Yelena Hemmami, assistant professor at the university. “Our discovery will help us fight many diseases, including diabetes. Studies on toxins may help us shorten the time needed to develop drugs.”

“Biologists have been studying the components of the venom of marine cone snails for years, and in the last decade they discovered that this venom contains a substance similar to insulin, but its effect is several times stronger and faster, so when this substance reaches the fish’s body it causes them to fall into a coma. Recently, we discovered that this venom also contains a substance similar to the hormone somatostatin, which plays an important role in the metabolism process in humans and other vertebrates and controls the hormone glucagon, which increases the concentration of glucose in the blood while significantly reducing sugar levels in the body. Experiments have shown that somatostatin analogues taken from the venom of sea snails completely prevent the production of glucagon, which gives us hope for developing drugs that may be used to combat some diseases associated with diabetes and new, highly effective cancer drugs that work to inhibit the growth of rapidly dividing cancer cells,” she added.