New Hope for Snakebite Victims as Unithiol Shows Promise in Clinical Trials

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized venomous snakebites as a priority neglected tropical disease, posing a severe threat to populations, particularly in rural tropics. Globally, an estimated 1.2 million to 5.5 million people experience venomous snakebites each year, resulting in more than 125,000 deaths annually. The impacts go well beyond deaths, though. Three to four times as many people are afflicted by long-term disabilities, such as amputations that result in loss of limb.

Studies confirm that Asian, African, North American and South American vipers all have venom factories loaded with metalloproteinase enzymes. These enzymes make their bites much more painful. Due to the ability of these enzymes to cause profound tissue necrosis, extensive tissue damage can occur, resulting in complications that require emergent operative management.

Scientists believed that the time was finally right to develop effective treatments. Now they are investigating the use of unithiol, a drug that has historically been used to treat heavy metal poisoning. Early results indicate that unithiol could operate as a practical replacement for standard antivenoms. This approach would be a welcome preliminary step toward controlling the impact of snakebites. It buys them critical time—stabilizing patients well before they arrive at a hospital where they can be treated with antivenom.

To address this knowledge gap, a Phase I clinical trial held in Kenya investigated multiple unithiol dosages to determine the optimal dosage for safety and efficacy. The trial had 64 enrolled adults. Its objective was to develop a three-dose immunization protocol for use in later trials against envenomation. Many, including the original researchers, stressed the importance of this trial. It opens the door to larger studies exploring unithiol’s potential in snakebite treatment.

The implications of these findings are profound. Moreover, access to effective treatment options—including the availability of antivenom—is weak in many areas where snakebites are prevalent. Healthcare providers can continue to make the world a better place for victims of venomous snakebites by providing proven alternatives such as unithiol. This is particularly important in rural areas, where access to antivenom is often scarce.