Topline
Available snake bite antivenoms are inconsistent at preventing tissue damage, and can cost thousands of dollars, so researchers found the common blood thinner heparin may be a cheap alternative to treat venomous snake bites and a more successful drug at preventing amputation.
Key Facts
Wound infections like necrosis—the death of body tissue—and cellulitis happen in almost 31% of snake bite cases and can result in amputation and the loss of limbs.
Antivenoms already on the market are expensive and are inconsistent in their ability to stop necrosis from happening at the site of a snake bite, according to a new study published Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine.
Researchers used CRISPR gene editing, which is a technology that allows scientists to change the DNA of a living organism, to find new methods to block cobra venom from two different snakes: red spitting cobras and black-necked cobras.
The team discovered the commonly used blood thinner heparin was not only effective at slowing the snake venom, but was successful at preventing necrosis, according to the study.
Because heparin is inexpensive—it can cost between $20 and $350 per dose—the researchers are hopeful the drug can be “rolled out relatively quickly to become a cheap, safe and effective drug for treating cobra bites,” once human trials are completed, the study’s lead author Tian Du said in a statement.
How Much Do Antivenoms Cost?
The price of antivenoms varies. Researchers found patients in some states pay between $7,900 and $39,652 per vial of antivenom. CroFab, one of the most popular antivenoms in the U.S., costs around $3,000 per vial, and the initial treatment typically requires between four to six vials of the drug.
Are Snake Bites Dangerous?
Yes, but some snake bites are more serious than others, according to the Cleveland Clinic. There are two types of snake bites: dry bites and venomous bites. Dry bites are mostly seen in nonvenomous snakes, and occur when a snake doesn’t release any venom in its bite. Venomous bites are dangerous and can be life-threatening, and occur when a snake injects venom into the body. Snakes can regulate the amount of venom injected into the body as this is a voluntary process. Between 50% and 70% of all venomous snake bites result in envenoming, which is a life-threatening disease caused by toxins in snake venom. Envenoming can cause severe paralysis that prevents breathing, severe tissue damage, kidney failure and fatal hemorrhages.
Big Number
5.4 million. That’s how many people worldwide are bitten by a snake each year, and between 81,420 and 137,880 people die from snake bites every year, according to the World Health Organization.
Key Background
The WHO declared envenoming as a neglected tropical disease in 2017, and set a goal to reduce the global burden of snake bites by 50% by 2030. The WHO lists many cobra species as having category 1 snakebites, which means they require the highest medical attention due to their extremely dangerous venom. Not all snakes are venomous, but because venomous snake bites are considered medical emergencies, they should be treated right away, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The sooner antivenom is administered, the more effective it is at preventing damage. Other serious side effects venomous snake bites can cause include disrupting blood vessels, preventing blood from clotting, causing paralysis or damage to the nervous system and breaking down muscles.
