More than 300,000 snakebite cases occur in Africa annually, resulting in at least 7,000 deaths, as well as numerous amputations and injuries. Now, scientists have invented a new nanobody-based antivenom that shows promise against 17 dangerous African snake species.
Until now, the mainstays of treatment have been antivenoms created by exposing horses to particular venoms and then isolating protective antibodies from the animals' blood. These traditional antivenoms can occasionally cause allergic reactions in patients, and they are effective against only one or a few of related snake species.
