Target product profiles for animal plasma-derived antivenoms: antivenoms for treatment of snakebite envenoming in south Asia

Overview

We describe here WHO public-benefit Target Product Profiles (TPPs) for antivenoms intended to be used for treatment of snakebite envenoming in South Asia, the region of the world that harbours arguably the greatest burden of morbidity and mortality from snakebites.

Four TPPs are described.

• The first is for products that are intended for widespread use throughout south Asia, for treatment of envenoming irrespective of the species of snake causing a bite. This would include products minimally targeted to treat the ‘big four’ species that dominate the landscape of snakebites in the south Asian sub-continent.
• The second is for products where the snakebite causes predominantly neurotoxic effects.
• The third is for snakebites where the effects are largely haemorrhagic or procoagulant.
• The fourth is for treatment of envenoming for a single species or genus of snake.

These TPPs are intended to provide guidance to manufacturers, regulators, procurement agencies, clinicians, and researchers, to improve antivenoms and thus treatment of snakebite envenomation.