Revolutionizing Snakebite Treatment: A Step Towards Reducing Global Death Toll

SciFocus/Nov 24, 2024 -- Snakebites claim approximately 63,000 lives annually, particularly in rural areas of India and other tropical regions. Despite the century-old effectiveness of traditional antivenom, its limitations call for next-generation therapies. Emerging innovations aim to simplify treatment administration, broaden efficacy, and improve accessibility, potentially saving thousands of lives worldwide.

All of those deficiencies mean that there’s a really strong rationale to try and improve treatment and to develop new therapies that can address some of those challenges," says Nicholas Casewell, venom biologist at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK.

Challenges with Current Antivenom:

• Requires intravenous administration, often unavailable in rural areas.
• Species-specific effectiveness; limited to the snake used for production.
• Risk of severe immune reactions due to animal-derived antibodies.

Next-Generation Solutions:

• Oral Medications: Drugs like varespladib target key toxins (e.g., sPLA2) in snake venom, potentially offering early intervention and acting as a "bridge to survival."
• Heavy Metal Antidote: Unithiol neutralizes metalloproteinase enzymes in viper venom, effectively halting bleeding and tissue damage in animal models.
• Blood Thinners: Tinzaparin, a heparin-like drug, combats tissue damage caused by cobra venom toxins and can be administered subcutaneously in rural settings.

Innovative Antibody Therapies:

• Development of universal lab-produced antibodies targeting a broad range of snake venoms.
• Potential for higher safety and efficacy compared to traditional antivenom.

Combination Therapies: Drug cocktails (e.g., varespladib + unithiol/marimistat) show promising results against diverse snake species, drastically reducing tissue death in preclinical trials.

Accessibility Goals:

• Affordable, field-administered solutions to ensure rapid treatment for rural populations.
• Research aims to deliver therapies that complement hospital care, improving survival rates globally.

As researchers advance clinical trials and refine treatments, the future of snakebite management looks promising. With a focus on affordability and accessibility, these innovations could transform snakebite treatment, offering a lifeline to millions in vulnerable communities.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03818-z

If you're enjoying this content, sign up to SciFocus daily newsletter by Biopatrika for all the biggest stories in Science, healthcare, STEM, startups, and how we're advocating to "Bring Science to Society." #SciFocus #BioPatrika

For partnership or advertisement opportunities, feel free to contact us here or at [email protected] .

Career Opportunities: Biopatrika Career Hub https://www.dhirubhai.net/groups/13946324/

Follow Virender Singh and Biopatrika on LinkedIn.