This drug is closest yet to a universal snakebite antidote
Originally shared by Rob Jongschaap
This drug is closest yet to a universal snakebite antidote
'Snakes, says Dr. Matt Lewin, are “like little mobile landmines”: They’re invisible, lying in wait in populated areas, killing or maiming without warning. Worldwide, tens of thousands of people die from snakebites every year.
But an existing drug could change that. Lewin, an emergency medical doctor, presented findings Friday that a compound called varespladib can counteract the effects of 28 common venoms in biochemical models — making it the closest thing yet to a universal antidote.
[...]
“The results I have seen are very interesting and promising,” said José María Gutiérrez of the University of Costa Rica, who has been researching snake venom and treatments for 40 years and has seen Lewin’s results. But, he noted, it’s not quite time to make the giant leap toward human trials. He believes the work should progress with further animal studies. “The rationale of this approach is sound and should be pursued by researchers at the experimental and clinical levels,” he said.
...'
http://www.statnews.com/2016/03/11/snakebite-antidote/
http://www.statnews.com/2016/03/11/snakebite-antidote/
This drug is closest yet to a universal snakebite antidote
'Snakes, says Dr. Matt Lewin, are “like little mobile landmines”: They’re invisible, lying in wait in populated areas, killing or maiming without warning. Worldwide, tens of thousands of people die from snakebites every year.
But an existing drug could change that. Lewin, an emergency medical doctor, presented findings Friday that a compound called varespladib can counteract the effects of 28 common venoms in biochemical models — making it the closest thing yet to a universal antidote.
[...]
“The results I have seen are very interesting and promising,” said José María Gutiérrez of the University of Costa Rica, who has been researching snake venom and treatments for 40 years and has seen Lewin’s results. But, he noted, it’s not quite time to make the giant leap toward human trials. He believes the work should progress with further animal studies. “The rationale of this approach is sound and should be pursued by researchers at the experimental and clinical levels,” he said.
...'
http://www.statnews.com/2016/03/11/snakebite-antidote/
http://www.statnews.com/2016/03/11/snakebite-antidote/
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