Johannesburg: The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), through its South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP) subsidiary, has announced the successful restart of antivenom production at its newly renovated manufacturing facility. This development aims to address significant shortages of snake antivenom that have impacted South Africa and many other parts of the world in recent years.
According to South African Government News Agency, antivenom is the only effective treatment for severe snake bite envenomation from potentially deadly snakes, as it enhances the immune response. Production of antivenom resumed two weeks ago, with the first batch comprising 536 units of polyvalent antivenom being released. New batches are already in production, and the supply is expected to gradually improve in the coming months.
The NHLS has outlined the different stages of manufacturing along with estimated release timelines. Polyvalent antivenom, scorpion antivenom, spider antivenom, and boomslang antivenom are anticipated to be released in November this year. The production process is described as complex and time-intensive, requiring extensive in-process inspections to ensure the safety, quality, and effectiveness of each vial produced.
This effort represents a crucial step in restoring the local supply of lifesaving antivenom, essential for treating envenomation from snakes, spiders, and scorpions.