Ziconotide
Ziconotide is a research peptide in the Calcium Channel Blocker class. Ziconotide is a 25-amino-acid omega-conotoxin that selectively blocks N-type voltage-gated calcium channels on primary nociceptive afferents in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Blocking calcium influx prevents release of pain-signalling neurotransmitters.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- —
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 2639.2 g/mol
- Half-life
- —
- FDA status
- Approved
- Administration Route
- intrathecal
- Frequency
- —
- Last updated
- Aug 30, 2026
- Reviewed
- Aug 30, 2026
Research summary
Synthetic equivalent of a cone snail venom peptide, approved for severe chronic pain in adults for whom intrathecal therapy is warranted and who are intolerant of or refractory to other treatments.
Peptide Library's Ziconotide profile summarises 5 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
Protocol
- Dosage Range
- —
- Frequency
- —
- Cycle
- —
- Administration Route
- intrathecal
- Reconstitution Guide
- —
Not yet checked against primary sources
These figures are compiled from earlier reference material. They have not been verified against FDA labelling, registered trials or published literature, no citation is attached to them, and none of them is a recommended dose. Ziconotide is queued for dosage evidence review.
Compare reported doses across the whole librarySequence & molecular data
| Molecular formula | C102H172N36O32S7 |
|---|---|
| Molecular weight | 2639.2 g/mol |
| PubChem CID | 16135415 |
| FDA UNII | 7I64C51O16 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL4594214 |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
Ziconotide is a 25-amino-acid omega-conotoxin that selectively blocks N-type voltage-gated calcium channels on primary nociceptive afferents in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Blocking calcium influx prevents release of pain-signalling neurotransmitters. It does not act at opioid receptors, so it neither produces tolerance in the opioid sense nor is reversed by naloxone, and it must be delivered intrathecally because it does not cross the blood-brain barrier.
Regulatory & research status
Ziconotide is an FDA-approved product for specific labelled indications. Approval does not extend to the research contexts described on this page, and approved products are prescription medicines.
| FDA status | Approved |
|---|---|
| Research status | Approved product (see FDA status) |
| Availability | Prescription-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Unknown / Not Listed |
| Library classification | FDA-Approved |
Benefits
—
Potential Side Effects
No side effects listed yet for this entry.
Storage & stability
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder is far more stable than the reconstituted solution. Keep sealed vials cold, dry and away from light; long-term storage is typically frozen, with short-term refrigeration for vials in use.
Once reconstituted in bacteriostatic water, keep the solution refrigerated, avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles and agitation, and label the vial with the reconstitution date and concentration. Discard any solution that turns cloudy or shows particulates.
Degradation rates differ by sequence: peptides containing methionine, cysteine, asparagine or glutamine are more prone to oxidation and deamidation, so shelf life after reconstitution is compound-specific rather than universal.
Read the full guide: how to store peptides before and after reconstitution →
Source: Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544–575. (PMID 20143256). General guidance for research handling; not product-specific instructions.
Ziconotide: frequently asked questions
What is Ziconotide?
Synthetic equivalent of a cone snail venom peptide, approved for severe chronic pain in adults for whom intrathecal therapy is warranted and who are intolerant of or refractory to other treatments.
How does Ziconotide work?
Ziconotide is a 25-amino-acid omega-conotoxin that selectively blocks N-type voltage-gated calcium channels on primary nociceptive afferents in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Blocking calcium influx prevents release of pain-signalling neurotransmitters.
Is Ziconotide FDA approved?
Yes. Ziconotide is approved by the FDA, and approved products are prescription medicines. Approval is always for specific indications studied in clinical trials, so an approved status does not mean the compound is approved for every use it is discussed for. Research-chemical material sold under the same name is not the approved product.
What peptides are similar to Ziconotide?
Compounds most often compared with Ziconotide include Angiotensin II, Cetrorelix, Corticorelin and Cosyntropin. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- A comprehensive review on ziconotide — Heliyon, 2024External reference
- Administering ziconotide and monitoring patients treated with ziconotide: expert opinions — Pain Manag Nurs, 2013External reference
- Ziconotide: a clinical update and pharmacologic review — Expert Opin Pharmacother, 2013External reference
- Ziconotide, 2006External reference
- Ziconotide, 2026External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
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Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Aug 30, 2026 · Version 1
This Ziconotide profile is compiled from published literature (5 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled · Report an error
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