6 ms·
> But antivenom is made much the same way it was 130 years ago when it was first produced. A small amount of venom is pumped into a horse, camel or sheep, and t
by abeppu 1y ago
> But antivenom is made much the same way it was 130 years ago when it was first produced. A small amount of venom is pumped into a horse, camel or sheep, and the antibodies produced in response are harvested. The antibodies tend to be specific to the type of venom injected, and do little to ease symptoms from other types of snakes.
Ok so this guy did some crazy self-experiments with venoms from a range of snakes over an extended period. And more institutional scientists are finding useful antibodies in his blood. But ... why have the institutional scientists not previously done the equivalent process with animals. I.e. if you inject a horse with increasing concentrations of venom from a range of snakes, can you produce a universal antivenom?
- thereisnospork 1y agoProbably would have issues passing an ethics review. Aside from the other non technical (cost) and technical hurdles (would it work).
- fc417fc802 1y agoI wish ethics were the issue but seeing some of the mouse studies that "pass" is quite depressing. I expect it's the cost, facilities, and logistics of keeping multiple horses for multiple decades. It would literally be proposing the equivalent of starting a long term small business with an up front cost in the low digit millions (you need to purchase a small farm).