IISc collaborates with BSV to develop region-specific treatments for snakebite
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With IISc's ‘Evolutionary Venomics Lab’ to develop region-specific antivenoms, the BSV will collaborate, the company said. At present, treatments are based on a single polyvalent antivenom designed for the ‘big four’ snakes in the country.
IISc collaborates with BSV to develop region-specific treatments for snakebite
Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has collaborated with the Biopharmaceutical company Bharat Serums and Vaccines (BSV) to develop next-generation snakebite therapy in India. With IISc's ‘Evolutionary Venomics Lab’ to develop region-specific antivenoms, the BSV will collaborate, the company said. At present, treatments are based on a single polyvalent antivenom designed for the ‘big four’ snakes in the country.
Recent research at the lab had highlighted the alarming consequence of inter- and intra-species variations in venoms on the effectiveness of antivenom, BSV said. “The polyvalent antivenom inefficaciously neutralises the venom from distinct populations of the ‘big four’ snakes, as well as many other local clinically important snake species. Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of region-specific antivenom in the country."
While speaking on the same, Sanjiv Navangul, Managing Director and Chief Executive, BSV, said that "the effort was to partner with institutes like IISc to promote research in the neglected area of the biodiscovery aspects of venom in India. It is our collective endeavour to widen access to snakebite treatment, and, as BSV continues to innovate in India for India and the world, we are confident that effective interventions involving education and antivenom provision would reduce snakebite deaths not only in India but also neighbouring countries in South Asia and Afghanistan."
Dr Kartik Sunagar, who leads EVL, said "that snakebites annually cause over 58,000 deaths in India. And four times as many suffer from permanent loss-of-function injuries, such as amputations."
Earlier, BSV had also partnered with IISc to initiate a PCR-based risk assessment for various disease in equines, in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Anti Venom Guidelines 2010.
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