![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/sits-leaf-costa-rica-580935925.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSPIDER venom is being trialled as a rub-on gel for erectile dysfunction.<\/p>\n
Scientists believe they can harness the power of the Brazilian wandering spider to boost men\u2019s performance in the bedroom.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A bite from the deadly creepy crawly can cause \u201clong and painful erections\u201d.<\/p>\n
Some 72 men will now test out a gel made from a molecule in the venom, with results expected in the spring.<\/p>\n
Professor Maria Elena De Lima, of Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil, said: \u201cThe drug candidate has demonstrated it does not generate any side effects, even in high doses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Around 16.5million men in Britain are affected by erectile dysfunction, with around half of those aged 40 to 70 blighted by it.<\/p>\n
The NHS last year spent \u00a318.3million on prescriptions for meds \u2014 including Viagra and Cialis \u2014 to treat it.<\/p>\n Tests on the spider venom began decades ago, after scientists spotted its erection-inducing potential \u2014 despite it sometimes causing penis flesh to rot away.<\/p>\n Trials in 2019 showed the molecule improved blood flow to the penis by 113 per cent when applied as a gel.<\/p>\n The compound, called BZ371A, helped men achieve erections within half an hour.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n It is thought to work by boosting levels of nitric oxide, which opens the blood vessels in the penis \u2014 allowing more blood in during arousal.<\/p>\n Scientists are now preparing phase 2 clinical trials to test the drug on men who have had prostate removal surgery because of cancer.<\/p>\n Patients often suffer with erectile dysfunction because of the surgery and researchers hope it could give them fresh hope and mean fewer men are put off cancer treatment.<\/p>\n If successful, tests will be expanded and carried out at hospitals before the manufacturer Biozeus seeks approval for use more widely.<\/p>\n Professor Elena said: \u201cTests have demonstrated that the compound works without any toxicity, as it is practically not detected in the bloodstream.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe big advantage is that the approval of topical medications tends to be much faster, due to the lower possibility of adverse side effects.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/2019-sydney-australia-centenary-institute-727888516-1.jpg\")
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