One of the world's deadliest spiders may hold the secret to treat erectile dysfunction

The banana spider, aka wandering spider or armed spider, is one of the most poisonous in the world. Photo: AFP

Three decades ago, Brazilian researchers began studying a curious side effect from banana spider bites: The toxin left victims with priapism, a painful and persistent erection.

The scientists were inspired to develop a synthetic molecule using some properties of the spider’s poison to create a gel to treat erectile dysfunction, which is now undergoing promising clinical trials.