Bee stings: the first anti-venom tested

It’s a first. On Saturday, the Brazilian authorities announced the launch of an unprecedented clinical trial in several regions of Brazil. The objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of the first anti-venom serum, developed based on anti-inflammatory and antihistamine molecules, on people who are victims of bee stings. This antivenom, called Antiapilico serum, comes in the form of an auto-injectable ampoule and should be administered immediately after the occurrence of a bite.

These trials follow 15 years of research conducted by the University of Botucatu (Unesp) in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and the country’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). “Anyone who is bitten in the regions of BoTucatu, Tubarao (south) and Uberaba (south-east) will be taken to a research center where they will receive the serum,” said veterinarian Rui Seabra Ferreira Jr, research coordinator. “Thanks to its tests, we will assess the safety and efficacy of the product by the end of the year,” he emphasizes.

40 deaths per year

Brazil has 15,000 bee stings each year and 40 people die of it. A bee sting injects an average of 140 µg of venom into the body. Except in cases of intolerance, it remains harmless. However, for people with allergies, a single bite may be enough to cause death. In some severe cases, the venom can cause seizures accompanied by shock. The consequences and effects of bites on the body also depend on their number. According to Brazilian researchers, when a person suffers from 200 bites, the quantity of venom delivered is sufficient to cause damage to the heart, liver, or even kidneys.

In France, it is estimated that the bites of hymnoptera (hornet, bees, wasps, horsefly) kill each year 10 to 20 times more than those of vipers.
In Brazil, if the trial is successful, scientists may consider expanding the availability of the serum to all regions. And why not, later, export it to other countries.