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LIVERPOOL, UK – A significant breakthrough in snakebite treatment has emerged from a world-first clinical trial, indicating that an oral medication could revolutionize how this deadly condition is managed. Researchers from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), in collaboration with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Wellcome Trust Research Programme, have successfully completed a Phase I clinical trial of unithiol, a drug showing potential to neutralize snake venom.
The study, published in the journal eBioMedicine, revealed that unithiol is safe, well-tolerated, and easily administered orally, making it a viable option for remote rural clinics where snakebites are most prevalent. This is a crucial development in addressing the global health crisis of snakebite envenoming, which claims over 140,000 lives annually, primarily in impoverished rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
Unithiol, already approved for heavy metal poisoning, was identified for its ability to neutralize snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs), zinc-based toxins found in viper venom that cause severe tissue damage and bleeding. Current antivenom treatments are costly, require intravenous administration in hospital settings, and can cause severe side effects, creating significant barriers to timely treatment.
“The animal-derived antivenoms used today are based on 100-year-old principles,” said Dr. Michael Abouyannis, the study’s lead author and clinical researcher at LSTM. “It’s a sign of how neglected snakebite is as a health concern that these antiquated treatments are still being used today. Small molecule therapeutics, such as unithiol, have the potential to be safer and cheaper and can be taken easily as a pill.”
The Phase I trial assessed various doses of unithiol in both oral and intravenous forms, with no serious side effects reported, even at the highest dose. Blood analysis confirmed rapid drug absorption and the presence of levels expected to inhibit snake venom toxins.
Based on these promising results, the LSTM team will now advance unithiol to Phase II clinical trials, where its effectiveness will be tested on patients who have experienced snakebites. If successful, unithiol could be rapidly deployed in rural clinics and first-aid settings, providing crucial time for victims to reach hospitals and mitigating the severity of envenoming.
Professor Nicholas Casewell, Director of the CSRI at LSTM, emphasized the potential impact of this development. “As we move into Phase II of clinical trials for unithiol, we move closer to a world where snakebite envenoming can be treated in a clinic just minutes away from a patient.” He added, “While unithiol may not be a cure by itself, we hope that it will prevent the worst effects of snakebite envenoming and buy victims valuable time to get to a hospital, thereby reducing their risk of death or disability.”
This breakthrough aligns with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal to halve snakebite-related deaths and disabilities by 2030, marking a significant step towards more accessible and effective snakebite treatment.
Disclaimer: It is important to note that unithiol is still in the clinical trial phase. The information provided in this article is based on preliminary research and should not be interpreted as medical advice. Snakebite victims should always seek immediate professional medical attention. The effectiveness and safety of unithiol for snakebite treatment are still being evaluated, and further research is necessary before it can be widely implemented.
