Venomous animals represent a major source of highly selective and efficient bioactive compounds that have already led to the development of several new drugs. The latest FDA approved example is Prialt, a peptide originating from the venom of a cone snail (Conus magus). CONCO is an innovative post-genomic project dedicated to the discovery and development of novel biopharmaceuticals generated by the broad biodiversity of cone snails.

The project aims at characterizing from the genomic up to potential therapeutic properties all the putative bioactive compounds that can be synthesised by a cone snail species. The genome and transcriptome of Conus consors will be exhaustively studied. Large amounts of venom will be fractionated and submitted to proteomic studies to generate a biochemically characterized 'natural library' of compounds. Large-scale synthesis of each identified candidate will be achieved to form a "synthetic library" of compounds.