BENGALURU: Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionise the treatment of cobra bites worldwide. Researchers from the University of Sydney and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have found that “heparin”, a common blood thinner, can be repurposed as an inexpensive antidote for cobra venom.
The study, published Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine, reveals that heparin and related drugs can effectively stop the necrosis caused by cobra bites.This discovery could significantly reduce the severe injuries and amputations resulting from cobra venom-induced tissue death.
Professor Greg Neely from the University of Sydney, a corresponding author of the study, said: “Our discovery could drastically reduce the terrible injuries from necrosis caused by cobra bites – and it might also slow the venom, which could improve survival rates.”
The research team used CRISPR gene-editing technology to identify the human genes targeted by cobra venom. They found that heparin acts as a ‘decoy’ antidote, binding to and neutralising the toxins responsible for tissue damage.
This new treatment approach could be a game-changer in the fight against snake bites, which kill up to 1.4 lakh people annually and leave 4 lakh more with long-term consequences, researchers said, adding that Cobra species account for a significant portion of these incidents in parts of India and Africa.
Professor Nicholas Casewell from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine emphasised the potential impact, saying: “Our findings are exciting because current antivenoms are largely ineffective against severe local envenoming, which involves painful progressive swelling, blistering and/or tissue necrosis around the bite site.”
The researchers hope that this discovery will contribute to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal of reducing the global burden of snakebite by half by 2030. “With heparin being an inexpensive and widely available drug, it could be quickly implemented as a treatment option after successful human trials,” researchers said.
This research not only offers hope for cobra bite victims but also demonstrates the potential of repurposing existing drugs to address urgent medical needs in underserved communities worldwide, they added.