Scientists at Lancaster University have recently identified novel drug combinations that could revolutionize the treatment of snakebites, offering hope and a lifeline to individuals affected by these life-threatening incidents.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 5 million snakebites occur each year, resulting in up to 2.7 million envenomings.
The Threat of Venomous Snake Bites
Snakebites, particularly those from cytotoxic venomous species such as North American rattlesnakes, African adders, and more, frequently result in irreversible tissue damage, resulting in disfigurements and, in severe cases, limb loss.
This report from Lancaster University tells us that conventional antivenom treatments, administered intravenously upon hospital arrival, have proven largely ineffective against such damage, leaving victims with life-altering injuries.
New Drug Combinations for Snake Bites
Lead researcher Dr. Steven Hall spearheaded a study revealing a potential breakthrough. His team explored the efficacy of repurposed small molecule drugs - 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS), marimastat, and varespladib - in inhibiting specific snake venom toxins.
The findings, published in Nature Communications, indicate that these drug combinations could be administered promptly in the field following a snakebite, offering a critical window to mitigate venom-induced damage.
Dr. Hall expressed optimism: "We successfully showed that combining two drugs that target just two different snake venom toxin families can almost completely inhibit the skin necrotizing activity of a wide range of geographically distinct snake species with differing venom profiles."
What sets this research apart is the ability of the drug combinations to remain effective even when administered up to an hour post-envenoming. This is a crucial development, as current antivenom treatments often come too late to prevent significant tissue destruction.
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What This Study Holds
Professor Nicholas Casewell, Head of the Center for Snakebite Research & Interventions at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, emphasized the excitement surrounding these findings.
"Our findings are exciting because they show that combinations of drugs that have already been shown to be safe in human clinical trials can prevent local tissue damage caused by different snake species," he said.
The study involved preclinical tests on human skin cells and animal models, showcasing the promising potential of these drug combinations in protecting against venom-induced necrosis.
Importantly, the drugs demonstrated effectiveness against diverse snake venoms, raising hopes for a pan-species, pan-continental snakebite therapy.
While the road to clinical application requires further research, the researchers anticipate that these findings will fast-track support for advancing these drug combinations into clinical trials.
The main goal is to develop a less expensive, safer, and more effective treatment for snakebites, which cause significant harm to people all over the world but receive little attention.
This breakthrough builds on previous research from 2021 by the Center for Snakebite Research & Interventions at LSTM, which demonstrated similar drug combinations' effectiveness in preventing systemic effects of snakebite envenoming.
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