A non-opioid pain treatment for cancer patients in development by private Brisbane biotech Xenome has shown promising results in Phase II clinical trials, the company said.

In an effort to develop a pain treatment with fewer side effects than opioid-based treatments without the possibility of physical addiction, Xenome has developed a drug candidate based on snail venom.

Xen2174 is a chemically modified, synthetic version of the venom peptide used by cone snails to immobilise their prey.

The treatment was found to be well tolerated amongst the 37 cancer patients enrolled in the trial, all of whom experienced chronic pain.

Side-effects were mild, with more serious adverse effects limited to patients who had received the highest dosages.

Before the end of the year, Xenome will commence clinical trials of Xen2174 in patients experiencing acute post-surgical pain.