Successful Phase 1 Clinical Trial
Researchers from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) have completed a Phase 1 clinical trial for unithiol, a new oral treatment for snakebite. Conducted in collaboration with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, the study was published in eBioMedicine. Findings confirm that unithiol is safe, well-tolerated, and easy to administer in remote rural clinics, marking a significant step toward its widespread use in the field.
Unithiol’s Potential as a Snakebite Treatment
Already approved for treating heavy metal poisoning, unithiol was identified as a potential treatment for snakebite envenoming due to its ability to neutralize snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs). These zinc-based toxins, commonly found in viper venom, cause severe tissue damage and life-threatening bleeding in snakebite patients.
Addressing a Major Global Health Challenge
Snakebite envenoming remains a critical health issue, responsible for over 140,000 deaths annually, primarily in rural regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Current antivenom treatments are expensive, can cause severe side effects, and require intravenous administration in hospital settings, delaying life-saving care.
A Step Toward Modern Snakebite Treatment
Dr. Michael Abouyannis, lead author and clinical researcher at LSTM, emphasized the urgent need for modern snakebite treatments. “Current antivenoms are based on 100-year-old principles. The lack of innovation in snakebite care reflects how neglected this issue has been. Small molecule therapeutics like unithiol could be safer, cheaper, and easily administered as a pill,” he stated.
Promising Clinical Trial Results
Preclinical research by LSTM scientists demonstrated that unithiol could prevent severe venom effects and save lives. The Phase 1 trial tested different doses in both oral and intravenous forms, revealing no serious side effects even at the highest doses. Blood analysis confirmed rapid absorption at levels expected to inhibit venom toxins.
Moving to Phase 2 Trials
As reported by medicalxpress, following these positive results, LSTM researchers will advance unithiol to Phase 2 clinical trials. The next stage will involve testing the drug on patients bitten and envenomed by snakes. If successful, unithiol could be quickly deployed in rural clinics and first-aid settings. This would buy victims valuable time to reach a hospital and reduce envenoming severity.
Transforming Rural Snakebite Care
Professor Nicholas Casewell, Director of the CSRI at LSTM, highlighted the potential impact of unithiol: “Many snakebites occur in remote areas where hospitals are hours away. Advancing unithiol into Phase 2 trials brings us closer to a future where snakebite treatment is accessible within minutes, improving patient survival rates.”
While unithiol may not serve as a standalone cure, researchers hope it will mitigate the worst effects of envenoming. This could significantly reduce the risk of death and disability.
Supporting WHO’s Global Snakebite Strategy
Developing safe, affordable, and easy-to-administer treatments is essential. The goal is to help the World Health Organization (WHO) halve snakebite-related deaths and disabilities by 2030. Evaluating the safety and effectiveness of drugs like unithiol represents a crucial step toward this objective.