Man using a special hook to guide a snake into a vivarium in a long room full of viviariums

Snakebite

Our vision is a world where snakebite treatments are safe, effective, and accessible for everyone. 

Man using a special hook to guide a snake into a vivarium in a long room full of viviariums

What we want to achieve 

Treatments for snakebites already exist and yet the human toll from snakebites is one of the world's biggest hidden health crises. They are thought to result in over 100,000 deaths every year, and leave another 400,000 with life-changing disabilities, mostly in the poorest communities. To prevent this, we want to help make safe, effective, and accessible snakebite treatments a reality for everyone.

Areas of focus 

We want to help transform the way in which snakebite treatments are researched, developed and delivered. If successful, this will also serve as a model for other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

Green cartoon snake on a blue background with three illustrated medicinal symbols around it

Ambition 1: Bring production of snakebite treatments into the 21st century 

Antivenom remains the only treatment for snakebite, yet it relies on outdated technology with inconsistent safety and efficacy standards. 

We aim to modernise production by applying advanced science and technology to create safer, more effective, and affordable treatments. By collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO), producers and partners, we seek to establish robust regulatory systems that accelerate access to high-quality antivenoms. 

A cartoon foot and hand on a green background, both with visible snakebites. Between them are two blue circles, one with an cartoon eye and one with a cartoon medicine bottle

Ambition 2: Develop the next generation of treatments

Current antivenoms are costly, can cause harmful side effects, and are not always effective. 

We are committed to advancing new and alternative treatments that are safer, more broadly effective, and easier to produce. By building a strong evidence base, we aim to support the development and sustainability of innovative therapies for snakebite. 

A cartoon earth on a yellow orange background. The earth is surrounded by various symbols relating to healthcare

Ambition 3: Build and sustain snakebite as a global health priority

Snakebite envenoming has long been overlooked as a public health issue, and the market for treatments remains unstable and costly. 

To change this, we aim to raise awareness of the scale and impact of snakebite, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We also support efforts to embed prevention and treatment into health systems, resulting in more consistent access to care where it’s needed most. 

“We’re driving momentum in snakebite research and development by improving current treatments, accelerating future solutions and raising awareness of this neglected global health challenge. We believe progress in these areas will lead to much needed improvements to health outcomes for patients in high-burden settings.”

George Phillips

Senior Research Manager, Snakebite

Wellcome

Progress so far 

In 2019, we launched a seven year, £80 million programme, committed to transforming the way snakebite treatments are researched and delivered to help make them safe, effective, and accessible for all. 

In 2025, Wellcome supported the formation of a Global Snakebite Taskforce (GST), formed of experts, policymakers, funders, researchers, health professionals, community advocates and global leaders at the forefront of the global response to snakebite. 

The Global Snakebite Taskforce  is convened independently under the co-chairship of the Kenyan Ministry of Health and Elhadj As Sy, Chancellor of Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Member of Wellcome’s board. The Taskforce was launched at the 78th World Health Assembly, where the co-chairs set out their commitment to driving progress and catalysing action to addressing snakebite.  

The GST is part of a wider Strike out Snakebite (SOS) initiative, supported by Wellcome to increase awareness, action and funding to drive progress towards the WHO’s goal of halving deaths and disabilities from snakebite by 2030. The GST will convene key actors from the snakebite envenoming stakeholder community and beyond to catalyse political will, galvanise commitments to act, and mobilise additional resources towards this goal. 

Through these initiatives, we hope to increase awareness and understanding of snakebite envenoming, positioning it firmly on the global agenda as a critical global health issue. 

In support of this work, a new GST-led report was published in May: Time to Bite Back: Catalyzing a Global Response to Snakebite. This comprehensive report tracks global progress on snakebite prevention and treatment, and is a call to action for policymakers, funders, researchers and industry to scale up their efforts to address snakebite. 

Through these initiatives, we hope to increase awareness and understanding of snakebite envenoming, positioning it firmly on the global agenda as a critical global health issue. 

Research projects we support

We are a global programme, supporting research projects that take place in, and involve stakeholders from over 30 countries. 

The research locations listed above are broadly defined and include countries where research projects, administrative organisations, partnerships, consultations and other work relating to the projects we are supporting has been active.  

Commissioned reports 

Snakebite envenoming drugs and biologics pipeline 2015 - present 

We commissioned a comprehensive review of the pipeline of snakebite drugs and biologics in development since 2015. It provides an overview of snakebite treatment development in the past seven years, insights into the treatments in the pipeline and the opportunities for investment and collaboration. 

Access the  full dataset through the interactive web-based portal here. 

Snakebite research funding 2007-2018

We commissioned the first comprehensive look at funding for snakebite envenoming research globally between 2007 and 2018.  

Download the report 

Our Team 

  • George Phillips

    Senior Research Manager

    Wellcome

    Connect with George:

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