Science and Engineering News

From Funnel-Web Venom to Lifesaving Drug

By Jack Liddell (Year 11 UQ Science Ambassador)

The funnel-web spider has a fearsome reputation, and its venom is among the most dangerous in the world. Yet researchers at the University of Queensland have found that one of its molecules could one day save lives. A drug candidate developed from a molecule in the venom of the Fraser Island (K’gari) funnel-web can prevent damage caused by a heart attack and extend the life of donor hearts used for transplants.

To see why this matters, it helps to know what goes wrong in a heart attack. A lack of oxygen makes the environment around heart cells acidic, and together these conditions send a message telling the cells to die. The molecule at the centre of the research is a protein called Hi1a. It blocks acid-sensing ion channels in the heart, so the death message is blocked, and more heart cells survive. It has also shown promise for stroke. Professor Glenn King’s team found that it reduces damage to the brain even when given up to eight hours after a stroke begins.

The research also points to a second use in organ transplants. If a donor heart has stopped beating for more than 30 minutes before it is retrieved, it usually cannot be used. A drug that protects the heart during that time could extend the window, and even ten extra minutes could decide whether a patient receives a heart or misses out.

The work has now moved beyond the laboratory. A phase 1 clinical trial of a drug called IB409, developed by the biotechnology company Infensa Bioscience from the venom molecule, began in January to assess its safety, tolerability and dosage. The researchers point out that no existing drug prevents the damage caused by heart attack and stroke. Professor King’s long-term vision is practical: first responders could one day give the drug in the ambulance. There are still several stages of testing to go, but it is a remarkable journey for a molecule from one of the world’s deadliest spiders.

References

Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland. (2021, July 16). Repairing hearts with deadly spider venom. https://imb.uq.edu.au/node/14891

Xinhua. (2026, January 8). Researchers launch spider venom drug trial for heart attacks, strokes. Associated Press of Pakistan. https://www.app.com.pk/?p=1142890

I hope you have enjoyed, throughout the year, the science articles written by the Year 11 UQ Science Ambassadors. One of the objectives of the UQ Science Ambassador role is to bring current scientific discoveries and innovations to our school community and to highlight the exciting work being undertaken by researchers in Queensland and around the world. Sharing these advances helps students and families see that science is not just something studied in classrooms and laboratories, but a dynamic and continually evolving field that shapes our daily lives.