Scorpion Venom Could Help Treat Breast Cancer
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A venomous creature from the Amazon rainforest may hold the key to fighting one of the deadliest cancers affecting women today.
According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancers aside, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S.—accounting for about 30% of all new female cancer cases annually, with an estimated 42,170 women expected to die from it in 2025.
Brazilian scientists have discovered that the venom of the Brotheas amazonicus scorpion contains a molecule that kills breast cancer cells in a way similar to chemotherapy, according to a groundbreaking study by researchers in Brazil.
"Through bioprospecting, we were able to identify a molecule in the species of this Amazonian scorpion that is similar to that found in the venoms of other scorpions and that acts against breast cancer cells," said Eliane Candiani Arantes, a professor at the University of São Paulo and the project's coordinator.
A stock image of a scorpion in the laboratory.
A stock image of a scorpion in the laboratory.
Sinhyu/iStock/Getty Images Plus
The molecule in question, called BamazScplp1, is a type of peptide—a short chain of amino acids—that showed cancer-fighting properties when tested in the lab.
It worka similarly to paclitaxel, a standard chemotherapy drug, by inducing necrosis, or uncontrolled cell death, in breast cancer cells.
Unlike some other cell-killing processes that are regulated by the body, necrosis causes the cancer cells to burst and die—a tactic that has also been observed in other venom-based compounds.
What Is Bioprospecting?
Bioprospecting is the process of searching for useful compounds in nature, especially from plants, animals, and microorganisms. In this case, the team explored scorpion venom for potential bioactive molecules—substances that affect living tissues in a beneficial way, such as fighting infections or cancer.
Turning Venom into Medicine—Without the Scorpions
The researchers aren't milking scorpions for their venom at scale. Instead, they are using a process called heterologous expression, which means inserting the gene that produces a particular protein into another organism—often yeast or bacteria—so it can be produced in large quantities in the lab.
"We also intend to obtain these molecules through heterologous expression," Arantes said, referring to BamazScplp1 and other promising compounds.
One such host organism is Pichia pastoris, a species of yeast originally isolated in France in 1950. It's commonly used in biotechnology to manufacture proteins that would otherwise be difficult to source naturally.
"Our idea now is to obtain this serine protease through heterologous expression [in a fragment or complete gene from a host organism that doesn't have it naturally] in Pichia pastoris," she added.
The "Super Glue" Made from Snake Venom
This isn't the first time researchers in Brazil have turned to venom for medical innovation. At the Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), scientists developed a patented product called fibrin sealant—a kind of biological glue made by combining serinoproteinase (an enzyme found in snake venom) with cryoprecipitate, a component derived from the blood of buffalo, cattle, or sheep and is rich in fibrinogen, a protein essential for blood clotting.
When mixed, the two form a fibrin network, mimicking the body's natural healing process. This sealant has been studied for uses like nerve repair, bone injury treatment and even helping restore movement after spinal cord injuries. It is currently in phase three clinical trials, the last stage before a drug can be considered for approval and widespread use.
"This growth factor favors the formation of new vessels. If we combine it with colinein-1, we can create an improved fibrin sealant compared to the one being developed at CEVAP, with the possibility of expanding the industrial scale, since it can be obtained through heterologous expression," Arantes said.
A Bigger Push Toward Biopharmaceutical Innovation
All of this work is being carried out as part of the Center for Translational Science and Development of Biopharmaceuticals (CTS), a program aimed at turning biological discoveries into practical medical treatments. The CTS is part of a broader push by FAPESP, a public foundation in Brazil that funds scientific research.
Their strategy isn't limited to scorpion venom. The team has also worked with rattlesnake proteins, including a compound called cholinein-1, and is developing another bioactive substance known as CdtVEGF, which promotes the growth of blood vessels—a potentially valuable tool in tissue regeneration.
What Comes Next?
The discovery of BamazScplp1 is still in the early stages. The results were shared at FAPESP Week France, a scientific conference held from June 10 to 12 in Toulouse, southern France. But the findings highlight the growing interest in nature-based compounds and how they might work alongside or even replace traditional treatments like chemotherapy.
If further tests confirm its effectiveness and safety, the molecule from the scorpion could someday be developed into a new kind of anti-cancer drug, offering patients more options and possibly fewer side effects.
Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about breast cancer? Let us know via health@newsweek.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
7 hours ago
- Boston Globe
‘I was terrified I was going to die.' Rape victims in Brazil struggle to access legal abortions
The Associated Press does not identify people without their permission if they say they have been sexually assaulted. In Brazil, abortion is legally restricted to cases of rape, life-threatening risks to the pregnant woman, or if the fetus has no functioning brain. Theoretically, when a pregnancy results from sexual violence, the victim's word should suffice for access to the procedure. 'The law doesn't require judicial authorization or anything like that,' explained Ivanilda Figueiredo, a professor of law at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. 'A woman seeking an abortion recounts the situation to a multi-disciplinary team at the healthcare clinic and, in theory, that should be enough.' Advertisement In practice, however, advocates, activists, and health experts say women encounter significant barriers to ending a pregnancy even under the limited conditions provided for by the law. This is due to factors including lack of facilities, disparities between clinic protocols, and even resistance from medical personnel. 'Healthcare professionals, citing religious or moral convictions, often refuse to provide legal abortions, even when working in clinics authorized to perform them,' said Carla de Castro Gomes, a sociologist who studies abortion and associate researcher at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Advertisement Women in Brazil also face geographical barriers to legal abortions. Only 290 facilities in a mere 3.6 percent of municipalities around the country of approximately 213 million people provide the service, according to a 2021 study from scientific journal Reports in Public Health. In June 2022, four nonprofits filed a legal challenge with the Supreme Court, arguing that restrictions on abortion access violate women's constitutional rights. The case is currently under review. A 35-year-old cashier from a small city in the interior of Rio de Janeiro state also said she became pregnant as a result of a rape. But, unlike the woman in Brasilia, she chose to pursue an abortion through legal means, fearing the risks that come with a clandestine procedure. Although Brazil's Health Ministry mandates that, in the case of a pregnancy resulting from rape, healthcare professionals must present women with their rights and support them in their decision, the woman said a hospital committee refused to terminate the pregnancy. They claimed she was too far along, despite Brazilian law not stipulating a time limit for such procedures. She eventually found help through the Sao Paulo-based Women Alive Project, a nonprofit specializing in helping victims of sexual violence access legal abortions. The organization helped her locate a hospital in another state, an 18-hour drive, willing to carry out the procedure. Thanks to a fundraising campaign, the woman was able to travel and undergo the operation at 30 weeks of pregnancy in late April. Advertisement 'We are already victims of violence and are forced to suffer even more,' she said in a phone interview. 'It's a right guaranteed by law, but unfortunately still seen as taboo.' Brazil's abortion laws are among the most constrictive in Latin America, where several countries — including Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia — have enacted sweeping reforms to legalize or broadly decriminalize abortion. This legislative environment is exacerbated by a political landscape in which far-right politicians, supported by Catholic and Evangelical voters who make up a majority in the country, regularly seek to further restrict the limited provisions within the country's penal code. In 2020, the government of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro issued an ordinance requiring doctors to report rape victims seeking abortions to the police. Current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva revoked the measure in his first month in office in 2023. But the measure left lasting effects. 'These changes end up generating a lot of legal uncertainty among health professionals, who fear prosecution for performing legal abortions,' Castro Gomes said. Last year, conservative lawmaker Sóstenes Cavalcante proposed a bill to equate the termination of a pregnancy after 22 weeks with homicide, sparking widespread protests by feminist groups across Brazil. The protests ultimately led to the proposal being shelved. But in November, a committee of the Chamber of Deputies approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would effectively outlaw all abortions by determining the 'inviolability of the right to life from conception.' The bill is currently on hold, awaiting the formation of a commission. Earlier this month, Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, a Lula ally, came under fire after sanctioning a bill mandating anti-abortion messages on posters in municipal hospitals and other health establishments. Advertisement Advocates say access to abortion highlights significant disparities: women with financial means dodge legal restrictions by traveling abroad for the procedure, while children, poor women, and Black women face greater obstacles. According to the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety, 61.6 percent of the 83,988 rape victims in 2023 were under the age of 14. A statistical analysis that year by investigative outlet The Intercept estimated less than 4 percent of girls aged 10 to 14 who became pregnant as a result of rape accessed a legal abortion between 2015 and 2020. Feminist groups in Brazil are campaigning at a federal level for enhanced access to legal abortion services. Last year, 'A Child Is Not a Mother,' a campaign by feminist groups, successfully advocated for the National Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents to adopt a resolution detailing how to handle cases of pregnant child rape victims. The body, jointly made up of government ministries and civil society organizations, approved the resolution by a slim majority in December.
Newsweek
9 hours ago
- Newsweek
Map Shows Democrat States Rolling Back Health Care Benefits for Immigrants
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Multiple Democratic-led states, including California, Illinois and Minnesota, have moved to roll back or freeze health care coverage for undocumented immigrants. Others may follow suit. Why It Matters The rollback of state-funded health care access for undocumented immigrants could signal a significant policy shift with national implications. The developments come amid larger debates over immigration and health care policy at a time when state and federal budgets face significant pressures. What To Know These policy reversals have been attributed by the states' Democratic leaders to mounting budget deficits and rising program costs. While coverage for many undocumented residents had been expanded in recent years, governors announced measures to reduce benefits, freeze new enrollments or end programs entirely. Such changes could affect tens of thousands of individuals and counter notions of universal health care, backed by many Democrats, while prompting broader reassessment of similar programs in other states, including Colorado, New York and Washington. Some Democratic-run states are rolling back health care, or considering rolling it back, for undocumented immigrants because of tightened budgets. Some Democratic-run states are rolling back health care, or considering rolling it back, for undocumented immigrants because of tightened budgets. Flourish California: Enrollment Freeze and Possible Benefit Reductions California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced plans to freeze new enrollments in Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program, for undocumented adults. Existing recipients would remain covered but could face reduced benefits in the future. Starting in 2027, the state plans to introduce a $100 monthly premium for adults without satisfactory immigration status, attributed to higher-than-expected spending and a multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall. The pause in California is for undocumented adults who haven't already enrolled in Medi-Cal, not people already enrolled. It does not apply to those under age 19, as even those who turn 19 and are on Medi-Cal and remain income eligible will keep their coverage. In May, Newsom said: "We are not cutting or rolling back those that are already enrolled in our Medi-Cal system, we're just capping state has done more than the state of California, no state will continue to more than the state of California by a long shot. That's a point of pride and that's a point of privilege to be governor that's been part of that effort." Under Newsom, California became the first state to offer full-scope Medi-Cal to all low-income adults, regardless of immigration status—expanding access in phases to young adults in 2020, older adults in 2022 and all remaining adults in 2024. "Governor Newsom championed these expansions and remains committed to protecting the immigrant communities who contribute to the fabric and economy of California," Elana Ross, deputy communications director for Newsom's office, told Newsweek on Friday. "He refuses to turn his back on hard-working Californians, especially when it comes to their basic health care needs. "But because of the $16 billion Trump Slump and higher-than-expected health care utilization, the state must take difficult but necessary steps to ensure fiscal stability and preserve the long-term viability of Medi-Cal for all Californians." Proposed adjustments in California's 2025-26 budget would include a $100 monthly premium for certain adults, effective January 1, 2027, and applies to Medi-Cal enrollees age 19 and older with "unsatisfactory immigration status—in line with the average subsidized covered California premium, which is about $135 per month in 2025. The estimated general fund savings would be $2.1 billion by 2028-29. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at East Los Angeles College on February 26, 2025, in Monterey Park, California. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at East Los Angeles College on February 26, 2025, in Monterey Park, enrollment freeze for full-scope Medi-Cal for undocumented adults, effective no sooner than January 1, 2026, applies only to new adult applicants over 19. Nobody under such a freeze would be kicked off their health care. There would be no impact on limited-scope coverage (emergency, pregnancy services, etc.) and children would remain unaffected. The state, which has previously frozen a publicly sponsored coverage program during difficult budget years, has estimated general-fund savings to be $3.3 billion by 2028-29. Illinois: Full Program Termination Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has proposed ending the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program as of July 1. The program, launched in 2021, provided state-funded health coverage to more than 30,000 low-income undocumented adults. The decision is a response to higher-than-anticipated costs, aligning with broader deficit reduction efforts. Those previously enrolled will be left without similar coverage options. Newsweek reached out to Pritzker's office for comment. Minnesota: Removal From MinnesotaCare Pritzker specifically related his in-state efforts to what is happening in neighboring states like Minnesota, where Governor Tim Walz said he would sign a bill removing undocumented adults from MinnesotaCare, a state-funded program, by year's end. While coverage for undocumented adults will end, eligibility will continue for undocumented children. The bill reversed a major health policy expansion from 2023. Newsweek reached out to Walz's office for comment. Broader National Trend and Political Debate Congressional Republicans in Colorado, one of seven states offering health care regardless of immigration status, are urging Democratic Governor Jared Polis to rescind Medicaid eligibility for undocumented immigrants. A letter co-signed by Representatives Lauren Boebert, Jeff Crank and Gabe Evans referenced recent rollbacks in California and Minnesota, and cited concerns over rising costs and effects on the state's Medicaid program. The letter, in part, says that each new dollar invested in care for illegal immigrants is a dollar that could go to supporting long-term care for seniors or keeping rural hospitals open. "Congressman Gabe Evans believes Governor Polis should prioritize taxpayer-funded health care for citizens who need it most: single mothers, children and people with disabilities," a spokesperson for Evans told Newsweek on Friday. "Additionally, every dollar that Colorado hands out for free health care for illegal immigrants is money that can't be spent on seniors and rural hospitals." Newsweek reached out to Polis' office for comment. What Happens Next Debate in other states, such as New York and Washington, suggests that similar policy shifts could spread. Democratic governors pointed to financial constraints and anticipated federal funding cuts as primary reasons for reversing course. Pressures from federal proposals, such as a Trump-endorsed bill to reduce Medicaid support for states offering coverage to undocumented immigrants, are shaping state policies. States like New York and Washington are reviewing their own policies, signaling that further changes may be forthcoming as budget negotiations and federal actions continue.
Newsweek
10 hours ago
- Newsweek
New York Boomers Lose Medicare Battle
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New York's highest court has rejected a legal challenge by retired city workers seeking to block a plan to move them from traditional Medicare - with city-funded supplemental coverage - to private Medicare Advantage plans. Newsweek has contacted the New York City Law Department for comment via email. Why It Matters New York City is required by law to provide health insurance coverage for retirees formerly employed by the city. The roots of the policy go back to 2021, when city officials and leaders of major public employee unions agreed to cut $600 million annually from the city's healthcare spending. The agreed-upon solution was to shift roughly 250,000 retirees and their dependents to a Medicare Advantage plan - an alternative to traditional Medicare that typically offers lower premiums. At the time, City Hall, then under the helm of former New York Mayor Bill De Blasio, argued in favour of the change because of the annual savings it would generate. The current Mayor Eric Adams has since embraced the idea. But critics have said the plan would mean more out-of-pocket costs for former New York government employees. What To Know In a unanimous decision issued Wednesday, June 18, Judge Shirley Troutman of the State of New York Court of Appeals said the retirees failed to provide adequate evidence that the shift would reduce their health benefits. The court also found no legally binding agreement ensuring the city would maintain their existing coverage. Stock image/file photo: Medicare enrollment form. Stock image/file photo: Medicare enrollment form. GETTY "If forced into a Medicare Advantage plan, retirees will lose access to many of the doctors they depend on for life-saving treatment and will routinely be denied coverage for medical care. That is because, unlike traditional Medicare (a publicly run program), private Medicare Advantage plans limit access to medical providers and medical care in order to maximize profits," the Organization of Public Service Retirees said in a statement following the decision. Medicare Advantage plans are private insurance options approved by Medicare. They replace traditional Medicare Parts A and B, covering hospital and outpatient care — except hospice. Most also include prescription drug coverage (Part D). Insurance companies offering these plans get a set payment from Medicare for each person enrolled. They also charge patients out-of-pocket costs and often require them to use doctors in their network or get referrals to see specialists. What People Are Saying The Council of the City of New York Common Sense Council said in a statement: "While we are extremely disappointed with the Court of Appeals decision today, it only strengthens our resolve to fight for our municipal retirees and ensure they are provided the supplemental Medicare insurance they were promised. We encourage our colleagues to join us in supporting Intro 1096, which would prevent this administration and any future administration from taking away this fundamental right and forcing retirees into a lesser health insurance plan." Marianne Pizzitola, president of the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees, said in a press release: "On behalf of 250,000 retirees, we call on the City Council and the next mayor to prevent us from being forced into a privatized Medicare Advantage plan and to let us continue receiving the health insurance we were promised and desperately need: traditional Medicare plus a supplemental plan." Justin Brannan, New York City Council Finance Committee Chair and Democratic candidate for city comptroller, said on X: "The City of New York should never, ever be screwing over retirees – and neither should the courts. Nobody will ever want to work for New York City again. Zero trust. Medicare Advantage is a bait and switch scam & betrayal. Enough! City Hall clearly doesn't care about retirees." What Happens Next While the Court of Appeals dismissed the retirees' primary claims, it sent the case back to a lower court to resolve remaining legal issues.
