Gandhinagar: The state has moved closer to developing a region-specific anti-venom for snake bites after the Snake Research Institute (SRI) in Dharampur handed over lyophilized (freeze-dried) venom of four snakes found in Gujarat to a licensed manufacturer last week. An official statement said on Sunday that a region-specific anti-venom is expected to be available within a year.Officials said that this anti-venom will be more effective in treating snake bites than anti-venom sourced from other regions.Quoting forest and environment minister Arjun Modhwadia, the statement said Gujarat is committed to reducing deaths from snakebites. “SRI follows World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for snake handling and venom extraction, ensuring the production of high-quality venom for the development of anti-venom,” the statement quoted the minister as saying.Last week, SRI handed over the venom purchased through an e-auction to Telangana-based MVins Bioproducts Limited, which is engaged in developing life-saving antisera for snake and scorpion bites, as well as tetanus, diphtheria, and gangrene antitoxins. The consignment comprised 33.4g of Indian cobra venom, 2.8g of common krait venom, 30.8g of venom from a Russell’s viper and 1.71g of venom from a saw-scaled viper.Quoting D C Patel, vice chairman of SRI, the statement said, “Anti-venom prepared using venom from distant regions often proves less effective. The institute focuses on collecting venom from venomous snake species found across Gujarat so that region-specific anti-venom can be developed.”SRI currently houses around 471 venomous snakes representing the major medically important species found in Gujarat.
