Snake Pharm: Accessible Antivenom and Beyond
With 81,000–138,000 deaths annually, primarily in South Asia and Africa, snakebites are a major global health crisis. In 2017, the WHO designated snakebite as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) due to its severe impact and lack of accessible treatment. A black mamba bite can be fatal within 30 minutes, and certain cobra species can kill in under two hours. How do victims reach a hospital? And what happens when they arrive?
In December 2024, the South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP) reported production delays, leading to a depletion of antivenom reserves nationally. If you get bitten in a developing country like South Africa today by a mamba, boomslang, puff adder, and cobras, you will most likely die.
Compounding the issue, studies have highlighted the limited efficacy of Indian-manufactured polyvalent antivenoms when used against African snake species. Some news articles say it is as good as shooting up distilled water.
Snake Pharm, an innovative antivenom research facility in KwaZulu-Natal, is tackling this crisis.
“Our current antivenom crisis is not new, but I believe we can mitigate it,” says Donald Schultz, renowned herpetologist and filmmaker. Schultz explains. “These snakes can save lives, and vets across the province have already expressed interest in our approach.”
Under Schultz’s leadership, Snake Pharm has developed a revolutionary biomimicry process that produces antivenom in just one hour—a major breakthrough compared to traditional methods that are expensive and time-intensive. Initial trials have been highly successful, including the treatment of 80 envenomed dogs, and hold immense promise for both human and veterinary medicine.
Snake Pharm’s work extends beyond production. The facility houses indigenous and exotic snake species for education and research, conducts community awareness programs, and provides emergency response services for snake incidents in homes, lodges, and rural communities; these initiatives help reduce unnecessary snake killings while improving safety and understanding.
“Snakes are crucial to Africa’s ecosystems,” says Schultz. “They regulate rodent populations, preventing disease spread and crop destruction, making them essential for ecological balance and human well-being.”
With education, research, and innovation at its core, Snake Pharm is redefining reptile conservation and antivenom accessibility.
I have been fortunate to spend nearly a year working with Donald Schultz and Snake Pharm, documenting their work across all seasons. I spent extended periods during the summer high season, when baby snakes hatch, and call-outs increase. Beyond filming, I immersed myself in handling venomous snakes, learning firsthand that their instinct is always to escape rather than attack.
During my time at Snake Pharm, we responded to call-outs for snouted cobras in suburban homes, forest cobras inside washing machines, puff adders in gardens, pythons in chicken coops, and black mambas in the rafters of township houses. I also participated in large-scale lectures at private schools and lodges, witnessing public reactions to venomous snakes and listening to the many questions answered.
From drawing blood from mambas to producing antivenom, incubating snake eggs, and releasing hundreds of baby snakes back into the wild, the mission at Snake Pharm follows the principle: “We must always give back more than we take.”
I look forward to continuing to document this groundbreaking research and hope that one day, it will lead to more affordable antivenom, ultimately saving thousands of lives across rural Africa.
