In a historic leap for global health, an international team of scientists has developed the world’s first genetically engineered, product-ready snake antivenom — a potential game-changer for treating bites from some of Africa’s most lethal snakes, including cobras, mambas, and rinkhals.
The pioneering study, published in Nature, was led by researchers at the Technical University of Denmark in collaboration with experts from The Scripps Research Institute, Lancaster University, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and several other institutions worldwide.
Dr. Stefanie Menzies from Lancaster University explained, “This marks the first time we’ve created a recombinant snakebite antivenom that can neutralize toxins from all African elapid species — cobras, mambas, and rinkhals — while outperforming traditional, animal-derived treatments.”
Unlike conventional antivenoms produced by immunizing horses or other animals, this new therapy relies entirely on recombinant DNA technology. The antibodies are engineered in the lab, allowing for ethical, animal-free, and scalable production with precise quality control — and potentially at a lower cost.
Snakebite envenoming, classified by the World Health Organization as a neglected tropical disease (NTD), kills more than 100,000 people each year and causes around 300,000 disabilities, primarily in rural regions of Africa and Asia. Alarmingly, snakebites claim more lives annually than all other 20 WHO-recognized NTDs combined.
Current animal-based antivenoms, though lifesaving, have major drawbacks — they can vary between batches, trigger severe allergic reactions, and are often effective only against specific snake species.
To solve this, the research team used genetic engineering to create a recombinant nanobody-based antivenom composed of eight nanobodies — tiny antibody fragments originally derived from alpacas and llamas. Together, they target seven toxin families found across deadly African elapids such as cobras and mambas.
In preclinical tests, this synthetic antivenom not only prevented death but also stopped tissue damage more effectively than traditional antivenoms, offering enhanced safety and reliability.
“This work demonstrates how biotechnology can deliver smarter, more universal solutions for snakebite victims,” Dr. Menzies added. “While clinical trials will be essential, our findings bring us closer to a future where snakebite treatment is safer, faster, and more accessible.”
Next, the researchers plan to scale up production and move towards clinical validation — a crucial step in bringing this innovation from the lab to remote clinics where it’s needed most.
Professor Andreas Hougaard Laustsen-Kiel, the study’s lead author from the Technical University of Denmark, said, “This success shows the power of international teamwork. Together, we can transform snakebite treatment and bring hope to thousands who currently face these deadly bites with limited options.”
