*Review* **Neglected Venomous Animals and Toxins: Underrated Biotechnological Tools in Drug Development**

**Guilherme Rabelo Coelho 1, Daiane Laise da Silva 1, Emidio Beraldo-Neto 1, Hugo Vigerelli 2, Laudiceia Alves de Oliveira 3, Juliana Mozer Sciani <sup>4</sup> and Daniel Carvalho Pimenta 1,\***


**Abstract:** Among the vast repertoire of animal toxins and venoms selected by nature and evolution, mankind opted to devote its scientific attention—during the last century—to a restricted group of animals, leaving a myriad of toxic creatures aside. There are several underlying and justifiable reasons for this, which include dealing with the public health problems caused by envenoming by such animals. However, these studies became saturated and gave rise to a whole group of animals that become neglected regarding their venoms and secretions. This repertoire of unexplored toxins and venoms bears biotechnological potential, including the development of new technologies, therapeutic agents and diagnostic tools and must, therefore, be assessed. In this review, we will approach such topics through an interconnected historical and scientific perspective that will bring up the major discoveries and innovations in toxinology, achieved by researchers from the Butantan Institute and others, and describe some of the major research outcomes from the study of these neglected animals.

**Keywords:** toxins; venoms; skin secretion; drug discovery

**Key Contribution:** This review brings up the issue of the limitations in current toxinology, that is the poor appraisal of the poisonous animals, opposed to the venomous ones. It is meant to expand the readers' perspective on venoms and toxins and the possible scientific developments associated with these thematic lines of research.
