Snake Venom and Antivenom Pharmacology

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  SNAKE VENOM & ANTIVENOM Chemistry, Composition, Mechanisms and Pharmacology Abstract This integrated teaching session for Phase III MBBS students focused on the pharmacology and toxicology of snake venom and the principles of antivenom therapy. The lecture covered the chemistry, composition, mechanisms of action, and pharmacological effects of snake venoms and antivenoms. Rational use of antivenoms, indications, administration protocols, adverse reactions, and supportive management strategies were discussed. The session also highlighted the translational importance of venom-derived compounds in modern drug development. Recent advances in antivenom research, including recombinant human monoclonal antibodies, toxin-specific inhibitors, synthetic antibody technologies, and next-generation broad-spectrum antivenoms, were reviewed. Current discoveries and emerging approaches aimed at improving efficacy, safety, affordability, and accessibility of antivenom therapy were also explor...

Translating Venom to Medicine: A Comprehensive Review on the Role of Chlorotoxin in Glioblastoma Diagnosis and Therapy

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Translating Venom to Medicine: A Comprehensive Review on the Role of Chlorotoxin in Glioblastoma Diagnosis and Therapy

Glioblastoma, the most aggressive primary brain tumor, carries a dismal prognosis, with median survival remaining under 15 months despite standard therapies. This is largely because of the tumor’s infiltrative nature, the restrictive blood–brain barrier, and intratumoral heterogeneity. Chlorotoxin (CTX), a 36-amino acid peptide derived from scorpion venom, has emerged as a promising multifunctional agent with high specificity for neuroectodermal tumors. In this comprehensive review, we highlight CTX’s potential to address critical limitations of current glioma treatments by bridging diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Diagnostic advancements include CTX-conjugated near-IF fluorophores and nanoparticles for fluorescence-guided surgery and multimodal imaging to enhance intraoperative accuracy. On the therapeutic front, CTX enables targeted delivery of siRNA, radioisotopes, and novel immunotherapies such as CTX-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cells. We also examine emerging clinical data supporting the safety and preliminary efficacy of CTX-based interventions. Collectively, CTX represents a paradigm shift in neuro-oncology, offering a single molecule with both diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. Its utility may also extend beyond gliomas to metastases and other malignancies within and beyond the central nervous system.

Deryn Ramsoomair, Christian K. Ramsoomair, Manav Daftari, Vratko Himic, Nathan A. Shlobin, Sarah E. Wang, Michael E. Ivan, Ricardo J. Komotar, Ashish H. Shah; Translating Venom to Medicine: A Comprehensive Review on the Role of Chlorotoxin in Glioblastoma Diagnosis and Therapy. Mol Cancer Ther 2025; https://doi.org/10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-25-0329