Rattlesnake blood proteins outmatch standard antivenom in lab tests

Overview

Updated 4 days ago

Snakebites kill 80,000 to 140,000 people a year, and the standard treatment has barely changed in 130 years. Researchers found that proteins naturally present in rattlesnake blood neutralize venom from multiple viper species — about 10 times more potently than the leading commercial antivenom.

These proteins, called FETUAs, evolved from an ancestral blood protein called Fetuin-A to shield snakes from their own venom. The finding, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, points toward antivenoms that are cheaper, safer, and broader-acting than today's approach of immunizing horses and sheep with venom and harvesting their antibodies.

Why it matters

Cheaper, lab-produced antivenoms could save tens of thousands of lives in rural regions where current treatments are too costly or unavailable.

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Key Indicators

10x

Potency vs. commercial antivenom

FETUA protein combinations were about 10 times more potent than sheep-derived rattlesnake antivenom in lab tests.

80,000–140,000

Annual snakebite deaths

Global estimate from the World Health Organization; snakebite is one of the world's most neglected tropical diseases.

FETUA proteins studied

Four Fetuin-A derived metalloproteinase inhibitors from western diamondback rattlesnake blood were tested in combinations.

Voices

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People Involved

Sean B. Carroll

Distinguished University Professor of Biology, University of Maryland

Leading the research team

Elda Sánchez

Director, National Natural Toxins Research Center, Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Co-author of the study

Organizations Involved

University of Maryland

Public research university

Leading institution for the research

Public research university in College Park, Maryland, where Carroll's lab led the FETUA protein research.

National Natural Toxins Research Center

Research center

Collaborating institution

Research center at Texas A&M University-Kingsville that maintains venom and antivenom collections.

Timeline

January 2022 September 2026

4 events Latest: 4 days ago

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September 2026
ScienceDaily reports the finding
Latest Media

ScienceDaily featured the discovery in its science news roundup, drawing renewed attention to the potential for a new class of nature-inspired antivenoms.
4 days ago
July 2026
Study published in PNAS
Publication

Peer-reviewed results appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showing FETUA combinations are about 10 times more potent than sheep-derived antivenom and protect against multiple viper species.
July 29th, 2026
April 2026
Preprint posted on bioRxiv
Publication

The FETUA combination study was posted as a preprint, describing how four rattlesnake metalloproteinase inhibitors work together to neutralize viper venom lethality.
April 13th, 2026
January 2022
FETUA-3 protein identified
Discovery

Carroll's lab found FETUA-3, a single protein in western diamondback rattlesnake blood that blocks many metalloproteinase toxins in venom.
January 1st, 2022

Scenarios

Veterinary antivenom reaches market by 2029

Possible Resolves by End of 2029

Discussed by: Sean Carroll, University of Maryland

Carroll expects the first commercial use of FETUA-based antivenoms to be veterinary, since animal products face lower regulatory hurdles than human treatments. If the recombinant proteins scale to manufacturing and prove stable, a veterinary product could clear approval first.

Human clinical trials begin within three years

Possible Resolves by End of 2029

Discussed by: Sean Carroll and research team

Human snakebite treatments would follow veterinary use, Carroll says. If manufacturing scales and safety data hold up, a Phase 1 trial could launch. Human trials face higher regulatory bars, so this path takes longer than the veterinary route.

Broad-spectrum antivenom covers three major viper toxin families

Likely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Sean Carroll

The current study focused on metalloproteinases, one of three major toxin families in viper venoms. Carroll's lab is now applying the same strategy to the other two families. Success would mean a single recombinant antivenom that neutralizes most viper bites.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1894–1896

Calmette's first antivenom (1894)

French physician Albert Calmette developed the first antivenom against cobra venom at the Pasteur Institute in Saigon. He immunized horses with increasing doses of venom and collected antibodies from their blood.

Then

The horse-based approach spread worldwide and became the dominant method of antivenom production.

Now

More than 130 years later, most antivenoms are still made by immunizing large animals and harvesting antibodies.

Why this matters now

This study's recombinant protein approach departs from the century-old animal immunization model, potentially offering a cheaper and safer alternative.

1978–1982

Recombinant human insulin (1982)

Genentech scientists cloned the human insulin gene into E. coli bacteria in 1978. The first recombinant human insulin product, Humulin, won FDA approval in 1982, replacing insulin extracted from pigs and cows.

Then

Patients gained a purer, more consistent insulin supply. Production scaled without animal dependence.

Now

Recombinant production became the standard for therapeutic proteins, lowering costs and improving safety.

Why this matters now

FETUA-based antivenoms follow the same trajectory: replacing animal-derived products with lab-produced proteins that can be manufactured at scale.