Currently Status Of Antivenom In Southern Africa

[ScorpionKing]

Hi Folks

There has been a lot of noise about antivenom availability in Southern Africa. The following summarises the current status without the media fluff,

The South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP) have manufactured a quality and effective antivenom for many years. This has all changed. Our current situation is that production of SAVP antivenoms that we have always relied upon has collapsed. We all saw it coming as they have been experiencing quality issues as well as supply issues for the past few years.

Currently, we have 2 replacements for SAVP Polyvalent Snake Antivenom. Echitab is produced in Costa Rica and is effective for use in the Eastern parts of Southern Africa. Echitab is very effective and we haver an almost 2 years track record. It’s good alit, safe and cost effective. Panaf is produced in India for Africa which includes Southern Africa. . Panaf was traditionally used for snakebite in animals since their product only went through animal trails (mice). Since the collapse in SAVP antivenom production, it has been pushed through to be used in humans.

I’m a member of the National Snakebite Advisory Group, where the topic of discussion has been focused upon sourcing the last stocks of SAVP antivenom (Polyvalent snake, monovalent Boomslang, scorpion and Latrodectus (spider) antivenoms).

Right now, all stock of SAVP antivenoms has been used up. The SAVP say they will get back on track and restart production ’soon’ (whatever that means) Echitab is covering the eastern parts of southern Africa. Panaf is demonstrating to be effective in humans also it has only been used for a month or so. Time will tell how safe and effective it is. Panaf is also demonstrating cross reactivity which is very interesting... watch this space!

The bigger issue is that here is no replacement scorpion antivenom, Latrodectus antivenom, nor Boomslang antivenom.

Since my focus is on spider bites and scorpions stings, I'm gettingcorrespondence from health departments in other countries who do not know what to do.. Desperate for scorpion antivenom, health departments in some African countries have purchased alternative antivenom which are cheap and ineffective. These antivenoms are ineffective against the sting of southern African species of scorpion. This has resulted in unfortunate situations where the product that is relied upon to treat a patient is ineffective and in some instances even dangerous.

This dire situation has highlighted the urgency for multiple manufacturers supplying this life saving product. Without a scorpion antivenom, medical professionals are waiting with bated breath for the SAVP to start production, or for new manufacturers to step in and introduce an affordable quality and effective product. In the meantime, patients stung by our 3 species of medically significant scorpion species either die or end up in ICU on a ventilator for a few days (and endure a lengthy rehabilitation).

Jonathan

[bushtech37]

Presumably somebody like Mike Perry can still supply the raw material. Is there not somebody like a vet and a chemist who can get together to produce antivenom. Quick and dirty but could save somebodies life

[ScorpionKing]

Presumably somebody like Mike Perry can still supply the raw material. Is there not somebody like a vet and a chemist who can get together to produce antivenom. Quick and dirty but could save somebodies life

The guys who traditionally supplied the SAVP with venom such as Mike) have been continuing to stockpile venom. The production of antivenom is expensive, takes many years to develop, run clinical trials, and register.

No one will register the use of quick and dirty antivenom. It will cause more harm than good. The answer to the antivenom conundrum is for the SAVP to get the stick pulled out of their ... or an existing manufacturer (with existing production facilities and track record) to start producing it. Antivenoms are produced in the same way, they just start off with a different venom which corresponds to the bite or sting of a target animal ie... Boomslang.

Jonathan

[bushtech37]

Thanks Jonathan

I wasn't even thinking of getting it registered. That's probably another pie in the sky. But somebody must be able to do something that's better than sitting deer in headlights in Millpark looking at a doctor.

Dries

[heyyahhey]

What is the reason SAVP is failing?

thanks for sharing this.

[hatjohan]

What is the reason SAVP is failing?

thanks for sharing this.

Rhetorical question

[bushtech37]

Saw this on the snakebiteassist website: "Arno also has one of the largest private supply’s of antivenom in Pretoria."

Does he get his antivenom from SAVP ?

[PsyPhin]

What is the reason SAVP is failing?

thanks for sharing this.

They closed to renovate. Someone didnt like the new drapes
They say its done now and will be 9 months before they back in proper business.

https://witness.co.za/news/2025/03/0...drops-to-zero/

[ScorpionKing]

Thanks Jonathan

I wasn't even thinking of getting it registered. That's probably another pie in the sky. But somebody must be able to do something that's better than sitting deer in headlights in Millpark looking at a doctor.

Dries

It's a good idea but it's not as simple as that :-) I'm getting a lot of offers to supply venom for the production of antivenom. Maybe the social media "scorpion venom is the most expensive substance on earth" has spurred it on. It is the production process that has halted.

I have to say, I hope the SAVP get it right and in time an alternative supplier also releases a scorpion and spider antivenom into the market. The organisation who manufacture Panaf are working on a scorpion antivenom for Southern Africa that if they get it right will be far better than SAVP ever was.

Jonathan

[bushtech37]

I see the SAVP is a government organisation which probably totally explains this mess. To allow the production of antivenom to cease because of some renovations can only happen in a government organisation. There is no chance that this could happen in private practice as they would be out of business.

As such I hope that an alternative supplier is found and that the SAVP becomes redundant

[ScorpionKing]

Saw this on the snakebiteassist website: "Arno also has one of the largest private supply’s of antivenom in Pretoria."

Does he get his antivenom from SAVP ?

Not sure how accurate that is. Maybe in Pretoria.

[ScorpionKing]

Scorpion sting season is not over. These are the stings the have happened just today (22nd March) that I know of. There are bound to be more.

• Elderly man in Hoedspruit (symptomatic, P. transvaalicus, no antivenom required, in hospital for observation)
• 3 year old in Swartruggens (P. transvaalicus, requires antivenom)
• Unknown patient in Upington (probably Parabuthus granulatus, antivenom required)
• Young girl in Gauteng, Uroplectes triangulifer. (antivenom not required)

Seems like Netcare does has 5 vials of SAVP scorpion in stock, 1 vial at each facility sprinkled around South Africa. No one else seems to have stock so these may be the last 5 vials available for human use.

[bushtech37]

At this rate some people are going to start drawing the short straw quite soon.

[ScorpionKing]

I had a chat to someone 'in the know'... :-)

Off the record... production of SAVP will start again in 2 to 3 months (in time for the next season). They will first start production of Snake Polyvalent Antivenom, then Latrodectus and then Scorpion antivenom. These time frames are not definite and we should all wait for an official announcement from the SAVP themselves.

Jonathan