Snakebite Envenoming Therapy: Current State and Future Perspectives
A special issue of Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 143
Special Issue Editors
2. Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
Interests: neglected tropical diseases; drug discovery and development; high-throughput screening; alternative preclinical models; galleria mellonella as a model organism; snakebite; snake venom; red back spider venom; scorpion venom; small molecule neutralisation of venom.
Interests: snake venom research; toxinology; envenomation; recombinant immunogen design; cross-neutralising antibodies; antivenom development and evaluation; next-generation therapeutics; preclinical assessment models; 3Rs principles
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Snakebite envenoming remains a significant yet neglected global health challenge, disproportionately affecting rural populations across tropical and subtropical regions. Although antivenom has been the mainstay of treatment for over a century, substantial limitations persist in its efficacy, safety, accessibility and affordability. Addressing these gaps requires both scientific innovation and coordinated global action.
This Special Issue will showcase advances across the therapeutic development pipeline, highlighting emerging strategies that have the potential to transform snakebite care. We welcome contributions spanning early-stage discovery through to clinical evaluation, including the following:
- Novel therapeutic targets;
- Next-generation antibody and non-antibody approaches;
- Innovative screening platforms;
- Preclinical and clinical studies of promising candidates.
In parallel, this Special Issue explores the broader ecosystem surrounding snakebite treatment. To reflect the need for comprehensive, patient-centred solutions, we welcome topics covering the following:
- The global landscape of antivenom production and distribution, with particular emphasis on sustainable manufacturing, regulatory harmonisation and resilient supply chains.
- Contributions addressing health-system strengthening, community-based interventions, and the integration of snakebite management into universal health coverage frameworks
Looking ahead, the convergence of advances in biotechnology, strengthened global health policy, and increased international collaboration offers a unique opportunity to drive meaningful change. By bridging innovation with equitable access, this Special Issue will highlight pathways toward safer, more effective, and more widely available therapies for the populations most affected by snakebite envenoming.
Dr. Rachel Clare
Dr. Rebecca Edge
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
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Keywords
- snakebite envenoming
- novel snakebite therapeutics
- antivenom development
- non-antibody toxin inhibitors
- innovative screening platforms
- preclinical snakebite models
- clinical evaluation of snakebite treatments
- global antivenom production
- sustainable antivenom manufacturing
- community-based snakebite interventions
- universal health coverage for snakebite
- equitable access to snakebite therapeutics
- global health collaboration
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