Public benefit corporation Ophirex has entered an agreement to produce a snake venom inhibitor for the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). 

Marimastat is an inhibitor of snake venom metalloproteinases, a major snake venom toxin which plays a primary role in the digestion of tissues, leading to swelling, necrosis and internal bleeding. Metalloproteinases also disrupt the coagulation pathway, impeding the blood’s ability to clot and creating risk of haemorrhage. 

The drug substance is set to be used in the LSTM’s Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions’ (CSRI) TOCSINS Phase II trial of novel oral snakebite treatments, which has been funded by a £4.2 million ($5.7 million) grant from Coefficient Giving. 

“Oral treatments that can be carried and administered at the time of bite or given to patients in rural health clinics represent a fundamental shift in how we approach snakebite treatment,” said Jeremy Gowler, CEO of Ophirex. 

“LSTM is a leader in snakebite research, and their evaluation of marimastat complements our ongoing efforts to fulfil the unmet need in snakebite treatment with accessible, effective new therapies. We value the opportunity to partner with this esteemed institution and its researchers.” 

Oral therapies needed to ‘bridge the gap’ between bite and hospital care 

Snakebite is a neglected global health crisis, with four to five million bites resulting in approximately 138,000 deaths and 400,000 permanent disabilities worldwide each year.  

A critical challenge in treating snakebite is the time delay between when the bite takes place and arrival at a hospital, where antivenom can be administered. Figures show 75% of snakebite-related deaths occur before hospital arrival and people living in low- and middle-income countries in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure are at the greatest risk following a venomous snakebite.  

“The potential of oral therapies to bridge the gap between bite and hospital care and even obviate the need for antivenom for some snake species could fundamentally change outcomes for snakebite victims,” said Professor Nicholas Casewell, Director of the Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions (CSRI) at LSTM.  

“The agreement with Ophirex and the upcoming clinical study with leading scientists from around the world are important steps forward in our mission to evaluate novel new treatment options for snakebite envenoming.  

“We also hope that this project will enable wider collaborative activities with Ophirex that help us to achieve our goal of delivering affordable and accessible therapy to the world’s disadvantaged snakebite patients.”