Cobalt diselenide was a biogenic weapon that affects the nervous system; while deadly to Cardassians it is harmless to most other humanoids. The agent can be synthesized from selenium and rhodium nitrite, and must be kept at a low temperature.

In 2373, Michael Eddington of the Maquis synthesized a large quantity of cobalt diselenide and introduced it to the Cardassian colonies on Veloz Prime and Quatal Prime. The Breen on Portas V provided the refrigeration units necessary to keep the weapons stable. Eddington eventually turned over his remaining cobalt diselenide to Starfleet after Captain Benjamin Sisko threatened to poison all the Maquis colonies in the Demilitarized Zone with trilithium resin in retaliation. (DS9: "For the Uniform")