Experts have warned that stockpiles of the most effective snake bite treatment in the world will run out next year and there is no comparable replacement yet ready.
A statement released by Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) says Fav-Afrique, the best-known antidote for 10 different snakebites in Sub-Saharan Africa, is in short supply and will run out in June 2016, thereby putting tens of thousands of people at risk of dying from snakebites.
“We are now facing a real crisis so why do governments, pharmaceutical companies and global health bodies slither away when we need them most?” said Dr Gabriel Alcoba, a medical advisor on snakebites with MSF.
Fav-Afrique, produced by French pharmaceutical company Sanofi, was the only anti-venom that was proven to be safe and effective in treating bites from different types of snake across sub-Saharan Africa.
However, Sanofi stopped production in 2014 saying that the antidote had been priced out of the market by companies from Brazil, India and Mexico. It has since switched to making a rabies treatment instead.
The charity said there are a few alternative products available but their effectiveness and safety have not been properly established.
Sanofi is believed to be negotiating for another company to produce Fav-Afrique, but these talks are not expected to be finalised before late 2016. This means effective replacement antivenom wouldn’t be available for at least next two years, MSF said.
“Most people who get bitten by a snake aren’t exactly sure what kind of snake it is that bit them and so having anti-venom that works against a variety of different species is really important,” said Polly Markandya, from MSF.
“We are worried that without that anti-venom available, people will die unnecessarily.”
It is estimated that each year, about 5 million people around the world are bitten by snakes and out of those 100,000 die and around 400,000 become permanently disabled or disfigured.
In sub-Saharan Africa alone 30,000 people die from snakebites every year and 8,000 suffer amputations.
