A Worrying Shortage of Antivenom Serum

It is estimated that up to 100,000 people die every year from snakebites, but the most effective antivenom used in Africa to prevent these deaths is set to run out. Manufacturer Sanofi has halted production of the serum after deeming it unprofitable. Another laboratory will take over production, but the serum will not be back in production until 2019. If production of the serum doesn’t start up again sooner, thousands of lives will be endangered. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) calls on Sanofi to provide a temporary solution.