Could a pill stop snake venom? new trial tests oral drugs against antivenom
NCT ID NCT07500233
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests two oral drugs, DMPS and marimastat, to see if they can reduce the harmful effects of snake venom. 504 adults in Brazil and Ghana who have been bitten by a snake will receive either the drug, a placebo, or standard antivenom. The goal is to find a treatment that can be given quickly in rural clinics, potentially saving lives and preventing disability.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- DMPS (unithiol) and marimastat, taken orally
- What this could lead to
- If successful, these oral drugs could be given sooner than antivenom, potentially reducing disability and death from snakebites, especially in remote areas.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early phase 2 trial with only 504 participants. The drugs may not work as hoped, could have side effects, or may not be as effective as antivenom.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 504 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Jan 2027
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Snakebite in the preceding 12 hours (Stage A \& B) * Aged ≥18-years (Stage A \& B) * Residing in the Amazonas region of Brazil or the Upper West region of Ghana (Stage A \& B) * Capable of giving informed consent (Stage A \& B) * Are eligible for antivenom treatment according to local guidelines (Stage B only) Exclusion Criteria: * individual with severe envenoming (defined in the protocol) (Stage A \& B) * concomitant anticoagulation (heparins, coumarin anticoagulants such as warfarin, or direct oral anticoagulants such as apixaban) (Stage A \& B) * pregnant or breastfeeding (Stage A \& B)
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.