Ophirex

Ophirex has developed an oral antidote for snakebite envenoming based on the small molecule varespladib, which inhibits sPLA2—a lethal venom component present in about 95% of venomous snakes. The drug can be administered immediately after a bite, even outside hospital settings. Varespladib has an established safety profile from prior development by Eli Lilly and Shionogi. The company’s lead candidate received FDA Fast Track status and has completed at least one human clinical trial with further studies underway as of early 2024. Ophirex aims to make this treatment globally accessible, especially in rural or resource-limited regions where most deaths occur before reaching medical care.