Scientists have discovered that heparin, a common blood thinner, can be repurposed as a cost-effective antidote for cobra venom, reducing necrosis caused by cobra bites.
- Researchers have discovered that the commonly used blood thinner, heparin, can be repurposed as an inexpensive antidote for cobra venom.
- Current antivenom treatments for cobra bites are costly and do not effectively treat the necrosis caused by the venom.
- The study utilized CRISPR gene-editing technology to identify ways to block cobra venom, successfully repurposing heparin and related drugs to stop necrosis caused by cobra bites.
- Heparin was found to act as a ‘decoy’ antidote, neutralizing the toxins within the venom that cause tissue damage, offering a potential cheap, safe, and effective drug for treating cobra bites.
- The World Health Organization has identified snakebite as a priority for tackling neglected tropical diseases, with an ambitious goal of reducing the global burden of snakebite by 2030; researchers hope the new cobra antidote can assist in this global fight.
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Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Infectious Diseases