Defanging Snakebites.

Item request has been placed! ×
Item request cannot be made. ×
loading   Processing Request
Read Online Read More Add to Saved list
  • Author(s): Hsu, Jeremy
  • Source:
    Scientific American. Dec2015, Vol. 313 Issue 6, p14-16. 3p.
  • Additional Information
    • Subject Terms:
      ANTIDOTES; SNAKEBITE treatment; ANTIVENINS; DRUG development; FINANCE of pharmaceutical research
    • Abstract:
      The article discusses research on snake venom antidotes. According to the clinical toxinologist David Williams, the field is severely underfunded, leading to slow development of new antidotes and low production of existing ones. Details on several antivenom research projects and on the iterative testing of venom proteins are presented. Other topics include the use of proteins from other animals in antivenoms and the development of drugs meant to stabilize snakebite patients until they can reach a hospital.