Iran produces anti-cancer drug from reptile venoms

Iranian scientists managed to produce a new type of anti-cancer drug using the venoms of reptiles like snakes and scorpions."After several years of research and studies on a combination of snake and scorpion venoms, the anti-cancer drug was produced in Iran," Abbas Zare', the Director of the Venomous Animals Department of Iran's Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, told reporters on Tuesday. "This anti-cancer drug has been produced from snake and scorpion venoms after 10 years of research work and has been extracted from the fat (peptide) of such animals," he added Zare' said that the anti-cancer drug has passed laboratory tests and it is waiting for the Iranian health ministry's permission to be experimented on human beings. Iran has taken wide strides in science and technology, particularly in medical and medicinal fields, in recent years. Earlier, Iranian Health Minister Marziyeh Vahid Dastjerdi had announced that Iran plans to boost its capacities and capabilities in a bid to make a huge and rapid advancement in drug production by synthesizing 15 types of anti-cancer medicines. "15 types of monoclonal anti-body drugs are being synthesized with the help of the Scientific Department of the Presidential Office, using hi-tech technology," Vahid Dastjerdi said in September. Also, Iranian scientists in April succeeded in producing new types of medication for treating different kinds of cancer, viral diseases and arthritis with 100% positive results. "The medicine has been synthesized through a new and unique formula and has the capability to destroy all malignant cancerous cells," Head of the research team Qassem Tak Dehqan told reporters at the time.