Scientists have discovered a potential antidote to snake bites in the blood of snakes themselves

Venomous snakes may accidentally be exposed to their own venom — for example, whilst biting, eating prey or sustaining other injuries.

Consequently, they have developed natural defence mechanisms over the course of evolution.

Researchers have long known that viper blood contains substances capable of blocking the effects of their own venom, but it is only recently that they have been able to identify the specific proteins responsible for this defence.

Details

Back in 2022, scientists discovered the protein FETUA-3, which is capable of inhibiting the action of metalloproteinases — one of the most important groups of toxins in viper venom.

These enzymes break down tissue, damage blood vessels and cause severe bleeding.

However, new research has shown that a single such protein is not sufficient for complete protection.

The team therefore decided to investigate how different proteins from the FETUA family work in combination with one another.

It turned out that a carefully selected combination of protective proteins significantly enhances the neutralising effect.

In laboratory tests, such a mixture completely neutralised the lethal effects of the venom of the western diamondback rattlesnake.

Furthermore, it provided protection against the venoms of several other viper species, even those that diverged evolutionarily millions of years ago.

According to the authors, in the laboratory model used, the new combination proved to be approximately ten times more effective than the existing commercial antivenom based on sheep antibodies.

Why existing antivenoms are not ideal

Modern antivenoms are produced by injecting small doses of venom into horses or sheep. Antibodies are then extracted from their blood.

Such treatments save thousands of lives, but they have a number of drawbacks.

They are expensive to produce, can cause severe immune reactions and often work only against a limited range of toxins from specific snake species.

Furthermore, the composition of venom varies greatly even among closely related species.

A new treatment is still a long way off

The authors emphasise that the work is still at an early stage.

The research focuses on just one major group of toxins — metalloproteinases. Meanwhile, snake venom can contain dozens or even hundreds of different toxic proteins.

The scientists now intend to identify similar natural inhibitors for other major families of toxins.

Only then will it be possible to talk about developing a fully-fledged universal antidote.

The drug may initially be used in veterinary medicine

According to the researchers, the first commercial drugs based on these proteins are likely to appear in veterinary medicine.

If further research confirms their safety and efficacy, the technology could form the basis for new antivenoms for humans as well.

The authors hope that such drugs will be cheaper to produce, safer and capable of providing protection against the bites of several species of venomous snakes at once.

According to estimates by the World Health Organisation, venomous snake bites cause between 80,000 and 140,000 deaths each year, whilst hundreds of thousands of survivors suffer severe, disabling consequences.

Source

Study: Sean B. Carroll et al. Nature’s antivenom: Combinations of conserved rattlesnake serum metalloproteinase inhibitors block the lethal action of viper venoms.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 2026.