Clinical Trials Complete for Local Russell’s Viper Antivenom
Groundbreaking work on developing local snake antivenom is underway at the Venom Research Centre (VRC) located in Chattogram. Researchers at the center have successfully completed clinical trials for the antivenom targeting the highly venomous Russell’s Viper and report achieving significant success.
The Venom Research Centre
The VRC operates out of the ground floor of a seemingly abandoned two-story building on the Chittagong Medical College (CMC) campus.
• Journey and Scale: The research began eight years ago with just four snakes. The center has since successfully bred snakes from eggs, and the collection has grown to 400 snakes across 10 different species. They also collect venomous snakes from various parts of the country.
• Mission: The antivenom being developed for snakebite victims is produced using the venom from the snakes housed at the VRC.
• Leadership: The research team is led by Dr. Aniruddha Ghosh, Professor of Medicine at CMC Hospital (Chief Researcher), and Dr. Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Assistant Professor of Medicine at CMC Hospital (Chief Coordinator). The six-member team also includes associate researchers Mizanur Rahman, Md. Noman, Rafiqul Islam, and Abdul Awal.
The VRC, which started operations in March 2018, is funded under an operational plan activity of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Progress and Impact on Public Health
According to VRC data, the antibodies collected from snake venom have already undergone successful clinical trials on mice. The research team is highly optimistic.
• Current Species: The center currently houses highly venomous species, including the Monocled Cobra (PadmogoKhra), the Spectacled Cobra (Khoiya GoKhra), the Common Krait (Kal Keute), the Banded Krait (Shankhini), and two species of Green Pit Vipers.
The monsoon season typically sees a rise in snakebites from dangerous species like the Russell’s Viper, Cobras, Kraits, King Cobras, and Green Pit Vipers. Tragically, many victims bypass medical professionals for traditional healers (Kobiraj or Ojha), leading to over 6,000 snakebite deaths annually nationwide.
• CMC Data: CMC Hospital data shows that in 2024, 1,283 snakebite victims were admitted, with three fatalities, and only 52 receiving antivenom. In 2023, 1,368 patients were admitted, resulting in two deaths.
Dr. Aniruddha Ghosh (Chief Researcher) stated: “We have developed the antivenom for the Russell’s Viper and successfully administered it to mice. We have finished the experimental work and been successful.” He anticipates that the publication of their research report will usher in a new era for antivenom production in Bangladesh.
Dr. Abdullah Abu Sayeed (Chief Coordinator) emphasized: “Snakebite is a rural problem. While treatment was historically city-centric, it is now also available at Upazila Health Complexes.” He added that Bangladesh currently uses Polyvalent Antivenom manufactured in India.
