New Treatment for African Spitting Cobra Venom Discovered

Groundbreaking research led by Professor Nicholas Casewell and colleagues unveils a new method to combat the devastating effects of African spitting cobra venom. By using a repurposed small molecule drug called varespladib, the team was able to block a key toxin in the venom responsible for dermonecrosis, preventing rapid destruction of skin, muscle, and bone. This breakthrough offers hope for improving treatment of tropical snakebites and preventing debilitating tissue damage in thousands of snakebite victims annually.