Guwahati: Commercially available Indian polyvalent antivenom, developed to counter the bites of the country’s infamous “Big Four” snakes, is failing to effectively neutralise the venoms of several medically significant snakes in Northeast India, a new study has revealed — exposing a critical therapeutic gap that is endangering lives across the region.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has already declared snakebite envenomation a neglected public health crisis. India bears the world’s highest burden, with tens of thousands of deaths reported annually. Official data records 32 snakebite deaths in Assam alone between April and December 2024, though experts believe the actual toll is much higher due to chronic underreporting.
The forests and hills of Northeast India are home to a dazzling but dangerous array of snakes — including the monocled cobra, king cobra, black and banded kraits, and multiple species of pit vipers. However, unlike the rest of India, the “Big Four” snakes (cobra, Russell’s viper, krait, and saw-scaled viper) are not the primary culprits here. Yet, hospitals in the region continue to rely on antivenoms manufactured exclusively against the Big Four.
That mismatch, says a team of researchers led by Prof. Ashis Mukherjee, Director of the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) in Guwahati, is costing precious lives.
In a landmark study published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Prof. Mukherjee and his collaborators from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and Mizoram University found that commercial polyvalent antivenoms showed poor neutralisation of the toxicity and harmful effects of Pope’s pit viper (Trimeresurus popeiorum) venom.
This elusive green snake, common in the damp, hilly forests of Assam and neighbouring states, is increasingly being linked to local snakebite cases.
“While victims may survive, they risk serious organ damage,” Prof. Mukherjee cautioned. Laboratory experiments on mice revealed that although antivenom-treated animals lived longer than untreated ones, they still suffered internal bleeding, vascular congestion, liver and kidney damage, and reduced platelet counts.
The findings build on earlier research from the same team, which revealed the inadequate immunorecognition of monocled cobra venom by existing Indian antivenoms. Together, the studies point to a dangerous blind spot in India’s antivenom strategy.
“This is a significant therapeutic gap in the management of snakebites in Northeast India,” said Prof. Mukherjee. “We urgently need region-specific antivenoms that reflect the species responsible for bites in this part of the country.”
The call is urgent. According to the study, Indian antivenoms recognised only about 8% of the Pope’s pit viper’s venom proteins — far less than the 15% recognised in the saw-scaled viper, one of the Big Four. This limited recognition means that larger doses of antivenom are required, increasing treatment costs and the risk of severe side effects, while still offering only partial protection.
To develop such region-specific solutions, Prof. Mukherjee stressed the importance of systematic and ethical venom collection from Northeast India’s snakes, with full support and permissions from the Environment and Forest Departments of Assam and neighbouring states. “This is a project of national significance,” he emphasised, “because it could save countless lives in one of India’s most snakebite-prone regions.”
As snakebite deaths continue to haunt villages across Assam and the Northeast, this study serves as a wake-up call: India’s one-size-fits-all antivenom policy is no longer sufficient. Without swift action to create antivenoms tailored to the region’s unique snake fauna, a neglected crisis will remain a deadly one.
Also Read: Why experts are flagging technical flaws, legal gaps in Teesta Dam rebuild plan
You just read a story that took days to report. Help us keep our reporters on the ground in the Northeast.
Ad-free reading, support and keep important stories alive
Support once (any amount)
Scan to pay via UPI