Compound Found In Tarantula Venom May Help People Dealing With Chronic Pain

BOSTON (CBS) -- It's one of the most feared creatures out there, the tarantula.

As it turns out, a compound found in the spider's venom could serve as a powerful painkiller and could offer an alternative to conventional painkillers which can have nasty side effects.

One challenge for scientists is to isolate the painkilling peptides from the toxins that can paralyze and kill a tarantula's prey, but if they succeed, tarantula venom could be used to take the sting out of pain.