Despite snakes killing or crippling 500,000 people worldwide, venom reversing drugs are too expensive and rare in some countries, but one California chemist is developing injectable nanoparticles that will neutralize a snake bite, according to The New York Times.
Here are five things to know:
1. Many drug companies don't bother to make venom-reversing drugs, called antivenins, because they are expensive and complicated to produce. The drugs can also trigger life-threatening anaphylactic shock or hemorrhaging, since they contain horse or sheep proteins.
2. Hospitals usually stock up on various antivenins, but patients must know what type of snake bit them and many die before they reach a hospital.
3. Kenneth Shea, PhD, a chemist at UC Irvine in Orange, is developing hydrogel nanoparticles that are able to cling, bind to and neutralize common poisons produced by numerous snake species. Fellow researcher José María Gutiérrez, PhD, venom specialist at the University of Costa Rica, found the nanoparticles significantly reduced tissue damage in a mice trial without triggering allergic reactions.
4. Dr. Shea's goal is to create a "cocktail of particles" that can be injected "like an Epi-Pen," according to The New York Times. This device would not replace all antivenins, but serve as a temporary treatment until victims can seek medical attention. The nanoparticles do not require refrigeration, making them more practical to have on hand.
5. The U.S. military and some companies from the veterinary industry expressed interest in funding Dr. Shea's research. However, regulatory approval could be far off, as the use of nanoparticles in medicine is a fairly new concept and "there aren't many volunteers" for clinical trials involving snake bites, Dr. Shea told The New York Times.
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