2024-07-19 03:30:00
About 138,000 people die from snake bites every year, mostly in poorer countries such as Africa, South and Southeast Asia.
More than 400,000 others develop necrosis, where the tissue around the bite dies and turns black.
Most cobra bites occur in certain areas of Africa and India. Heparin can neutralize the toxins in the venom of some cobras.
The drug does not work against all snake venoms, but the researchers say it could be a cheaper and more flexible tool than existing antidotes, many of which only work against one type of snake venom and cannot prevent necrosis.
The effect of the drug has already been tested on mice, the next step will be research on humans.
The hope of creating a universal antidote
The researchers pointed out that repurposing heparin could reduce the incidence of necrosis as well as improve survival rates after snakebites.
The authors of the study sought to determine what interacts with the poison in humans, causing necrosis and death.
“What’s scientifically exciting is that if we can identify four or five different ways that snake venom as a whole interacts with human cells, then we can develop universal antidotes that can block broad groups of venoms,” said Professor Greg Neely, lead author of the study. study author from the University of Sydney.
He hopes the discovery of a new antidote to cobra venom could help reduce snakebite deaths and injuries worldwide.
Heparin is an inexpensive, widely available medication included in the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines.
Experts identify snakebites as the deadliest of neglected tropical diseases.
“Our results are interesting because current antivenoms are largely ineffective against severe bites that present with painful progressive swelling, blistering, and/or tissue necrosis at the bite site,” the study authors said. “It can lead to loss of limb function, amputation and lifelong disability.”
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2024-07-19 03:30:00