This invention relates to novel .alpha.-conotoxin-like peptides comprising the following sequence of amino acids: Xaa.sub.1CCSXaa.sub.2Xaa.sub.3Xaa.sub.4CXaa.sub.5Xaa.sub.6Xaa.sub.7Xaa.su- b.8Xaa.sub.9Xaa.sub.10Xaa.sub.11C--NH.sub.2 in which Xaa.sub.1 is G or D; Xaa.sub.3 is proline, hydroxyproline or glutamine; each of Xaa.sub.2 to Xaa.sub.8 and Xaa.sub.11 is independently any amino acid; Xaa.sub.9 is proline, hydroxyproline or glutamine; Xaa.sub.10 is aspartate, glutamate or .gamma.-carboxyglutamate; Xaa.sub.11 is optionally absent; and the C-terminus is optionally amidated, with the proviso that the peptide is not .alpha.-conotoxin Ep1 or .alpha.-conotoxin Im1. The peptides are useful in the treatment or prevention of pain, in recovery from nerve injury, and in the treatment of painful neurological conditions such as stroke.