Supporting snakebite antivenom development

In a recent article titled "Snakebite Antivenom development is stuck in the 19th Century— what's next", Jeremy Hsu quotes David's comment that the field of antivenom development is underfunded. It appears that the pharmaceutical companies, including Sanofi Pasteur, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Behringwerke, do not make enough money from the manufacture of antivenoms and will cease production of them.

It is interesting to note that each year, venomous snake bites account for nearly 200,000 deaths. Only mosquitos kill more people each year and that is because many carry the protozoan that causes malaria.

There are some interesting developments for the treatment of snakebites and it is hoped that these will come to fruition before the stocks of antivenoms are depleted.