The principals of Venomyx are structured around addressing what may be the first recombinant antivenom designed to offer broad-spectrum treatment for bites from all medically relevant species of snakes. With an estimated 5 million persons annually (worldwide) bitten by venomous snakes, many victims experience disfigurement, disability, or death. Conventional anti-venom has been able to approximate treatment of snakebite but typically - in addition to a difficuly production process - its use may have limited efficacy and side effects. In promising contrast, the firm's antivenom - a recombinant product manufactured at scale using microbial fermentationis - showing early preclinical success as a universal treatment for snakebite. The stability of the firm's antivenom means that it does not require cold chain and will be available in the field for the first time ever. The effort is to transform a very old industry - still reliant on milking snakes and immunizing horses with the venom - with the plan being to manufacture product overseas or license to overseas pharmaceutical companies already showing willingness to change.
