Spider Venom Discovery Holds Promise for Heart Attack and Stroke Treatment

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists at the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience have uncovered a potential life-saving drug derived from the venom of Australia's K’gari funnel-web spider. This remarkable molecule, known as Hi1a, has shown promising results in preclinical tests on a rodent model mimicking real-world heart attack scenarios.

The research, led by Associate Professor Nathan Palpant and Professor Glenn King, is a significant leap forward in the quest for an effective treatment to prevent cell damage during heart attacks and ischemic strokes. Hi1a has demonstrated its ability to protect cells by blocking acid-sensing ion channels in the heart, preventing the messaging that triggers cell death. Moreover, the spider venom molecule has proven effective in shielding brain cells, reducing brain damage caused by strokes.

What makes Hi1a even more intriguing is its performance compared to the benchmark cardioprotective drug, cariporide. While studies on cariporide have been ongoing for decades without yielding a clinical drug, Hi1a has shown comparable efficacy in all parameters of organ structure and function. This puts Hi1a on the map as a potential game-changer in the field of cardiovascular medicine.

Palpant expressed optimism about the study's outcomes, stating, "We established that Hi1a is as effective at protecting the heart as the only cardioprotective drug to reach Phase 3 clinical trials, a drug that was ultimately shelved due to side effects." The findings mark a major step forward in understanding how Hi1a could function as a therapeutic agent, including the stages of a heart attack where it could be most effective and the appropriate dosage.

The road to this groundbreaking discovery has been a long one for the researchers, who have been working on spider venom for over a decade. Hi1a, sourced from the venom of the Hadronyche infensa, a funnel-web spider native to Australia, holds unique properties due to its isolation on K’gari Island for around 20,000 years. The spider's venom, said to be six times more potent than its infamous cousin, the Sydney funnel-web, contains some 3,000 peptide molecules.

Known to the K’gari Island First Nations Butchulla people as mudjar nhiling guran, or “long-toothed spider,” this particular funnel-web species has a complex venom makeup. Contrary to their fearsome reputation, these spiders are known to keep to themselves, and sightings are rare. The researchers have found it easier to track down this specific funnel-web on K’gari Island, where it often resides in sandy homes rather than dense forest cover.

Professor Glenn King, who received the 2023 Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation for developing the world’s first spider-venom-based insecticides, is encouraged by the safety studies' outcomes. This progress brings the potential heart and stroke treatment one step closer to clinical trials, offering hope for millions of individuals at risk of these life-threatening conditions.

In conclusion, the journey from spider venom to a potential life-saving drug is a testament to the perseverance of researchers seeking innovative solutions to medical challenges. Hi1a's remarkable ability to protect heart and brain cells opens new possibilities for treating heart attacks and strokes, marking a significant advancement in the field of cardiovascular medicine. As scientists move closer to clinical trials, the spider venom-derived drug stands as a promising beacon of hope for a healthier future.

Summary..Researchers at the University of Queensland have made significant progress in developing a potential life-saving drug derived from the venom of the K’gari funnel-web spider. The molecule, known as Hi1a, has shown promise in preclinical tests by protecting heart and brain cells during heart attacks and strokes. Safety studies indicate that Hi1a could be the first of its kind to pass safety trials successfully.
Associate Professor Nathan Palpant highlighted the crucial finding that Hi1a selectively interacts with cells in the injured zone of the heart during an attack, avoiding healthy regions and reducing the likelihood of side effects. The researchers, confident in Hi1a's safety and efficacy, have established Infensa Bioscience to commercialize the drug candidate, securing AU$23 million (US$15.2 million) for its development.Infensa Bioscience CEO Mark Smythe emphasized the global impact of an effective drug for heart attacks, addressing a critical gap in current treatments. While studies on cariporide have been ongoing for decades without yielding a clinical drug, Hi1a's potential breakthrough could transform the lives of millions worldwide suffering from cardiovascular disease. This development brings hope for a safer and more effective therapeutic option to prevent cell damage caused by heart attacks and strokes.