Antivenoms, recombinant antibodies, inhibitors, and the future of snakebite envenoming therapy

 

Antivenoms, recombinant antibodies, inhibitors, and the future of snakebite envenoming therapy

Abstract

Encouraging developments are taking place in the field of the therapy of snakebite envenoming (SBE), including innovations in animal-derived antivenoms and novel possibilities in the discovery of recombinant antivenom antibodies and new inhibitors of venom toxins. This narrative review presents an overview of these developments and highlights the challenges faced to improve current antivenom therapies and to move the new therapeutics from the development stage to preclinical and clinical testing, manufacture and distribution. The future of the management of SBE is likely to involve a combination of these three types of therapeutics depending on the different contexts. Likewise, innovative mechanisms should be implemented to guarantee that they will be available and accessible to countries of high incidence of SBE. The fulfillment of these tasks demands the integration of a diverse set of stakeholders, within a frame of cooperation, including researchers, developers, manufacturers, regulatory agencies, clinicians, funding organizations, non-governmental initiatives, public health authorities, and organized communities.

Gutiérrez, J. M. (2026). Antivenoms, recombinant antibodies, inhibitors, and the future of snakebite envenoming therapy. Toxicon, 271, 108964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108964