AI-Designed Antivenom: A Solution to the Antivenom Shortage?

Scientists have successfully used AI to design proteins that bind to neurotoxic proteins in snake venom, showing efficacy in mice. However, this raises the question: why design new binders when antivenoms already exist? The article delves into the challenges of antivenom production: high costs, shortages, and the extreme heterogeneity of snake venoms. While AI-designed antivenoms offer potential solutions, their success hinges on scalable, low-cost production and overcoming market-based challenges. The article also explores a recent study creating a 'universal' antivenom from a man repeatedly bitten by snakes, highlighting both the promise and the persistent economic hurdles.