Snakebite envenomation is one of the most overlooked global health crises, yet it claims more lives annually than many well-known diseases.
Every five minutes, someone dies from a venomous snakebite.
Even more suffer life-altering disabilities, with over 400,000 people losing limbs or mobility each year.
Despite its devastating impact, access to effective antivenom remains limited—especially in regions where snakebites are most common.
In June 2016, this crisis reached a breaking point when the last remaining supplies of FAV-Afrique, a highly effective, multi-snake antivenom, expired.
This antidote, produced by Sanofi Pasteur, was a lifesaving treatment for bites from 10 of Africa’s deadliest snakes.
Without it, millions are now left vulnerable, forced to rely on less effective or unproven alternatives.
The Collapse of a Lifesaving Antivenom
The loss of FAV-Afrique was not unexpected.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other global health agencies knew for years that Sanofi Pasteur planned to halt production.
Despite efforts to transfer the technology to another manufacturer, the process stalled, leaving a massive gap in treatment options.
Why did this happen? According to Sanofi Pasteur, the decision came down to economics.
Cheaper, lower-quality antivenoms flooded the market, causing a “steep drop in orders” for FAV-Afrique.
Pharmaceutical companies are businesses first—and producing antivenom isn’t as profitable as other medicines.
The Global Antivenom Shortage
The FAV-Afrique crisis is just one piece of a larger problem.
Only five of the 35 companies worldwide that manufacture antivenom produce products for sub-Saharan Africa.
The result? Countless patients face death or lifelong disability due to an entirely preventable condition.
Snakebite victims often turn to desperate, ineffective remedies.
In the absence of real medicine, people have been known to drink petrol, electrocute themselves, or apply cow dung to the wound.
These tragic attempts highlight the widespread lack of access to proper medical care and the urgent need for reliable antivenom solutions.
The Hidden Economic Toll of Snakebites
Beyond the human suffering, snakebites have a devastating impact on economies in affected regions.
10,000–20,000 Africans lose limbs every year due to untreated bites, making it impossible for them to work and provide for their families.
According to Leslie Boyer, founding Director of the VIPER Institute at the University of Arizona, these injuries push entire families into poverty, deepening the cycle of economic hardship.
The cost of treatment is another barrier. A single vial of quality antivenom can cost around $120—a sum greater than the annual income of many in rural Africa.
Multiple vials are often needed, making treatment unaffordable for most victims.
The Dangerous Rise of Cheap, Ineffective Antivenoms
The high price of quality antivenom led many governments to adopt cheaper alternatives.
But these products often lack proper testing and regulation. The consequences have been disastrous.
When Chad replaced FAV-Afrique with a lower-cost antivenom in the late 2000s, fatality rates from snakebites skyrocketed from 2.3% to 15%.
Ghana saw a similar spike in deaths. According to MSF’s Julien Potet, these so-called “alternatives” were “low-cost, low-quality” products that failed to neutralize venom effectively.
A Vicious Cycle of Distrust
The failure of these substandard antivenoms has deepened public mistrust in hospitals and modern medicine.
According to the African Society of Venimology, many patients delay seeking treatment, believing it to be ineffective.
By the time they arrive at a hospital, it’s often too late—the venom has already caused irreversible damage.
This reinforces the cycle: people avoid hospitals, governments hesitate to invest in high-quality antivenom, and preventable deaths continue.
Can Science Save Us?
There are efforts underway to develop new, more effective antivenoms, but these solutions aren’t coming fast enough.
The WHO has finally recognized snakebite as a serious health issue and is evaluating alternative products.
Some researchers in Costa Rica, Brazil, and Mexico are working on universal antivenoms that could treat multiple snake species with a single formula.
While promising, these treatments could take years to reach the market—and may cost thousands of dollars per dose initially.
Meanwhile, snakebite victims continue to die needlessly.
A Call for Urgent Action
What’s needed now is immediate action to ensure access to safe and effective antivenoms. Solutions include:
- Government subsidies to make high-quality antivenom affordable
- Stronger regulatory oversight to prevent the use of ineffective alternatives
- Incentives for pharmaceutical companies to invest in antivenom production
- Better education and outreach to help communities recognize snakebite symptoms and seek timely treatment
As Potet warns, “As long as antivenom is user fee-driven, people will only have access to low-cost, low-quality products.”
The bottom line? We already have the technology to save lives. What we lack is the will to make it accessible.
Without immediate intervention, thousands more will die from a completely treatable condition. The time to act is now.
