Viper venom could yield blockbuster stroke drug

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - The next big stroke drug could come from the venomous mouth of a viper.

Neurobiological Technologies, a California-based biotech, is milking the fangs of Malayan pit vipers at its Kentucky snake farm. Extracting snake venom by hand is not for the squeamish, but it could yield a drug that prevents brain damage in stroke victims.

Viprinex, the experimental stroke drug, is a diluted form of the Malaya viper's venom, which kills its victims by thinning their blood so dramatically that it causes internal bleeding. "They drown in their own blood," said CEO Paul Freiman, referring to snake bite victims.

Viprinex is being tested as a blood thinner to see if it safely increases circulation to the brain in stroke victims. If the drug is successful, it could prevent brain damage, which is common in stroke victims because the blood coagulates, blocking circulation to the head and other parts of the body.

"You try and put sludge through a narrow pipeline and it isn't going to through," said Freiman, using an analogy for stroke-induced blood clots. "[Viprinex] thins the blood to help it go to the brain."

Freiman, who's been in the drug business nearly 50 years, has projected $500 million to $1 billion in annual sales for Viprinex, which is in two phase 3 trials, which is the latest stage of testing before submission to the Food and Drug Administration. Assuming that the tests are successful and the FDA approves the drug, Freiman hopes to get Viprinex on the market in 2008.

The scientists at Neurobiological Technologies (unchanged at $3.67, Research) dilute the venom, gleaning 500 vials of Viprinex from one cubic centimeter of venom. Freiman said he has about 500 snakes, and he wants his stock more than doubled to 1,100 snakes to produce more of the drug.

I had actually heard about this project quite awhile ago. There is another one involving copperhead venom - similar clinical concept, different indication/usage