Common blood-thinning drug neutralises cobra venom

A drug commonly used to thin blood has been found to act as a cheap antidote to cobra venom, according to a team of scientists from Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, and the UK. Cobras are highly venomous snakes whose bites can cause severe damage to skin, muscle, and bone. The drug, Heparin, is typically prescribed to prevent blood clots, but researchers have discovered it can neutralize the necrosis-causing toxins in some cobra venoms.

Snakebites result in approximately 138,000 deaths annually, predominantly in poorer rural areas of Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Additionally, over 400,000 individuals suffer from necrosis, where the tissue around the bite dies and turns black. Cobras are responsible for a significant number of these bites, particularly in Africa and India. Heparin's ability to counteract these toxins makes it a potentially cheaper and more versatile alternative to existing antivenoms, which often target only a single snake species and do not prevent necrosis.

The research team has already conducted tests on mice and plans to proceed with human trials. Prof Greg Neely from the University of Sydney, a senior author of the study, stated that their discovery could significantly reduce the severe injuries caused by cobra bites and might also slow the venom's effects, thereby improving survival rates. He explained that venoms and toxins require interaction with human cells to cause harm. By identifying the ways in which venoms interact with human cells, scientists can develop universal antidotes that can block the effects of multiple venomous species.

PhD student Tian Du, also from the University of Sydney, described the discovery as a major advancement. She noted that Heparin is inexpensive, widely available, and listed as an essential medicine by the World Health Organization. If human trials prove successful, Heparin could be rapidly deployed as a safe and effective treatment for cobra bites. Prof Nicholas Casewell from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine emphasized that snakebites are the deadliest of neglected tropical diseases, disproportionately affecting rural communities in low- and middle-income countries. Current antivenoms are largely ineffective against severe local envenoming, which involves painful progressive swelling, blistering, and tissue necrosis around the bite site. This can result in loss of limb function, amputation, and lifelong disability.