Recombinant snakebite antivenoms: A cost-competitive solution to a neglected tropical disease?
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Publication Date
2017-02Journal Title
PLoS Negl Trop Dis
ISSN
1935-2727
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Volume
11
Issue
2
Pages
e0005361
Language
eng
Type
Article
This Version
VoR
Physical Medium
Electronic-eCollection
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Laustsen, A. H., Johansen, K., Engmark, M., & Andersen, M. R. (2017). Recombinant snakebite antivenoms: A cost-competitive solution to a neglected tropical disease?. PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 11 (2), e0005361. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005361
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a major public health burden in tropical parts of the developing world. In sub-Saharan Africa, neglect has led to a scarcity of antivenoms threatening the lives and limbs of snakebite victims. Technological advances within antivenom are warranted, but should be evaluated not only on their possible therapeutic impact, but also on their cost-competitiveness. Recombinant antivenoms based on oligoclonal mixtures of human IgG antibodies produced by CHO cell cultivation may be the key to obtaining better snakebite envenoming therapies. Based on industry data, the cost of treatment for a snakebite envenoming with a recombinant antivenom is estimated to be in the range USD 60-250 for the Final Drug Product. One of the effective antivenoms (SAIMR Snake Polyvalent Antivenom from the South African Vaccine Producers) currently on the market has been reported to have a wholesale price of USD 640 per treatment for an average snakebite. Recombinant antivenoms may therefore in the future be a cost-competitive alternative to existing serum-based antivenoms.
Keywords
Humans, Snake Bites, Recombinant Proteins, Antivenins, Immunologic Factors, Costs and Cost Analysis, Africa South of the Sahara, Neglected Diseases
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005361
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/271749
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