# Source: Conotoxins and Prialt Sources

**Type:** source
**Status:** Draft
**Confidence:** Medium
**Source Type:** FDA Label and Biomedical Reference Sources
**URL:** https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2004/021060lbl.pdf
**Publisher:** U.S. Food and Drug Administration and biomedical reference sources
**Accessed:** 2026-06-18
**Updated:** 2026-06-18

## Summary

This source note covers the first-pass evidence for the University of Utah conotoxin research story and Prialt, the approved ziconotide pain drug. The strongest source in this pass is the 2004 FDA label, which describes Prialt's composition, indication, delivery route, warnings, and clinical-trial basis.

## Useful Claims

- Prialt contains ziconotide, a synthetic equivalent of a naturally occurring conopeptide found in Conus magus.
- The drug is administered intrathecally and indicated for management of severe chronic pain in patients who warrant intrathecal therapy and are refractory to or intolerant of other treatment.
- FDA labeling emphasizes serious psychiatric and neurological risks.
- Public biomedical summaries connect the ziconotide/conotoxin discovery story to Baldomero Olivera's University of Utah conotoxin research program.

## Reliability Notes

The FDA label is authoritative for the approved drug, indication, warnings, and clinical description at approval. It does not by itself establish the full discovery, patent, licensing, or University of Utah institutional story. That history needs primary papers, university pages, and company/regulatory records.

## Related Pages

- [Conotoxins and Prialt](conotoxins-and-prialt.md)