From Bite to Recovery: Safety and Efficacy of Pan-African Polyvalent Antivenom Used for Treating Snakebites in Cameroon

Abstract

Snakebite envenomation (SBE) is a major public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly in Cameroon. This Phase IV, multicenter, open-label study was conducted from June 2024 to December 2024 to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PANAF-Premium™, a World Health Organization (WHO)-approved polyvalent antivenom that was introduced in Cameroon in 2023, given that prospectively gathered data and studies on this antivenom’s safety in SSA are limited. In total, 130 victims admitted to four district hospitals in North Cameroon with confirmed SBE were included. Data on envenomation syndromes, clinical outcomes, adverse events, and treatment response were recorded. Echis species were responsible for most bites, while clinical syndromes included hemotoxic (68.5%), cytotoxic (30.8%), and neurotoxic (0.8%) presentations. On average, victims required 3.34 vials and 5.55 days for clinical recovery. Early antivenom administration significantly reduced the number of antivenom vials required to manage the symptoms (p = 0.003) and hospital stay (p = 0.049). Seventeen patients experienced mild to moderate adverse events. Two deaths and a case of kidney injury were noted, all unrelated to antivenom use. These study findings indicate the safety and effectiveness of PANAF-Premium™ antivenom, meeting WHO performance targets. The results highlight the importance of timely antivenom administration in treating SBEs.