New Camel-Derived Antivenom Could Revolutionize Snakebite Treatment in India
December 26, 2025
India loses 58,000 people each year to snakebites, mostly in rural fields. Snake venom causes blood problems, paralysis, or tissue death. The common treatment uses antivenom made from horse antibodies against India’s "Big Four" snakes. But this old method dates back to the 1950s and has limits. India has over 60 venomous snakes, and poison varies by region. This makes the current antivenom less effective in many cases.
Scientists from Denmark and partners studied venom from 18 dangerous African snakes and injected it into alpacas and llamas. These camel-family animals produce tiny, strong antibody pieces called nanobodies. These nanobodies can be mass-produced cheaply by bacteria instead of horses. Tests on mice showed the new treatment worked well against almost all the snake venoms.
In India, researchers at the National Research Centre on Camel in Rajasthan found camel antivenom can block venom from the Sochurek’s saw-scaled viper. Expanding this approach to all venomous snakes in India could save thousands of lives and reduce amputations. The World Health Organization calls snakebite a neglected tropical disease needing urgent attention. This new camel-derived antivenom offers fresh hope in the fight.
Read More at Thehindu →
Tags:
Snakebite
Antivenom
India
Snake venom
Camel Antibodies
Nanobodies
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