crotoxin

Crotoxin is a toxic protein complex isolated from the venom of the South American rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus terrificus. It consists of two subunits: an acidic non-enzymatic component called crotapotin (CA) and a basic neurotoxic phospholipase A2 enzyme (CB). Crotoxin acts primarily as a potent neurotoxin with neuromuscular-blocking properties but also exhibits anticoagulant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor activities. Its mechanism of action involves inhibition of cell viability through induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in tumor cells; it also impedes angiogenesis and metastasis. Crotoxin’s pharmacological potential has been explored for chronic pain management, muscle dystonias as an alternative to botulinum toxin therapy, immune-associated diseases such as multiple sclerosis models in animals, bacterial infections due to its bacteriostatic effects at certain concentrations, and various cancers including melanoma. Clinical trials have reached Phase 2 for neoplasms/advanced cancer. The drug is being developed by Celtic Biotech[1][3][4][5][6][7].

Other names

Cytotoxic PLA2Crotalus durissus terrificus venom protein complexcrotapotin (acidic subunit)CB (basic subunit)