Pharmacokinetics of Venom Toxins and Their Modification by Antivenom Therapy

Antivenom therapy is still used empirically even though it is over one hundred years old (its discovery by Albert Calmette was published in 1894). This note presents the recent clinical and experimental studies conducted by the Venoms Unit of the Institut Pasteur. It shows in particular the results of pharmacokinetic studies of venom toxins and of the modifications of these kinetics after antivenom administration. The conclusions of these studies show how antivenom therapy can be made more effective and safer through better understanding of its mechanism of action.