Antivenoms for Snakebite: Design, Function, and Controversies
Background: Animal-derived antivenoms have been used to treat snake envenomation for more than 100 years. Major technological advantages in the past 30 years have produced antivenoms that are highly purified and chemically modified to reduce the risk of acute hypersensitivity reactions.
Like all pharmaceutical manufacture, commercial-scale antivenom production requires making trade-offs between cost, purity, pharmacokinetic profile, and production yield. Scope: This article reviews the current state of the art for antivenom production and development. Particular attention
is paid to controversies and trade-offs used to achieve a balance between improved safety and pharmacokinetic performance.
Keywords: Antivenom; acute hypersensitivity reactions; antivenom production; coagulopathy; crotalinae; envenomation; fab; novel therapeutic approaches; pharmacokinetic; pharmacokinetic performance; snake; snake envenomation; specific therapy; venomous snakes
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 August 2012
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