Evaluating the physicochemical properties and efficacy of recently expired and aged antivenom products from Thailand and Taiwan

Kae Yi Tan; Sin Teng Liew; Qian Yi Tan; Farah Nadhirah Abdul-Rahman; Nor Izzati Azmi; Si Mui Sim; Nget Hong Tan; Sumana Khomvilai; Visith Sitprija; Choo Hock Tan

doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.02.010

Evaluating the physicochemical properties and efficacy of recently expired and aged antivenom products from Thailand and Taiwan

Toxicon. 2019 Mar 15:160:55-58. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.02.010. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
² Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
³ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
⁴ Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, Thai Red Cross Society, Rama IV Road, Bangkok, Thailand.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: tanch@um.edu.my.

PMID: 30797900
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.02.010

Abstract

Gel filtration chromatography and gel electrophoresis revealed minimal protein degradation in lyophilized antivenoms which were 2-year expired (Hemato Polyvalent, Neuro Polyvalent; Thailand) and 18-year expired (Hemato Bivalent, Neuro Bivalent; Taiwan). All expired antivenoms retained immunological binding activity, and were able to neutralize the hemotoxic or neurotoxic as well as lethal effects of the homologous snake venoms. The findings show that antivenoms under proper storage conditions may remain relatively stable beyond the indicated shelf life.

MeSH terms

Antivenins / chemistry
Antivenins / pharmacology*
Chromatography, Gel / methods
Drug Stability*
Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / methods
Neutralization Tests
Snake Venoms / antagonists & inhibitors
Taiwan
Thailand

Substances

Antivenins
Snake Venoms