# Source: University of Utah News — New Painkiller Was Born in Utah

**Type:** source
**Status:** Useful
**Confidence:** High
**Source Type:** University News Release
**URL:** https://archive.unews.utah.edu/news_releases/new-painkiller-was-born-in-utah/
**Publisher:** University of Utah News (archive.unews.utah.edu)
**Accessed:** 2026-06-19
**Updated:** 2026-06-19

## Summary

University of Utah news release describing the discovery history of ziconotide (Prialt) — tracing the peptide's origins to Baldomero Olivera's conotoxin research program and J. Michael McIntosh's early work isolating omega-conotoxin MVIIA from Conus magus venom — and the FDA's December 2004 approval of Prialt.

## Useful Claims

- The founding peptide for Prialt was discovered at the University of Utah by J. Michael McIntosh, who started in Olivera's lab before his freshman year.
- Baldomero "Toto" Olivera's University of Utah lab developed the core conotoxin research program.
- The FDA approved ziconotide (Prialt) on December 28, 2004 for severe chronic pain via intrathecal infusion.
- Commercial development ran from Neurex to Elan to Jazz Pharmaceuticals after the Utah discovery.

## Reliability Notes

University-issued institutional news release — credible for attribution of discovery to Utah researchers and for the FDA approval date, but not a peer-reviewed primary source for the biochemistry. Corroborated by FDA records and primary literature.

## Related Pages

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