“Production of Recombinant Snake Venom Toxins for Research and Therapeutic Purposes” Selected as a Key Innovation
The ADDovenom project, funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme, was recently recognized by the European Commission’s Innovation Radar for its innovative work in the Production of Recombinant Snake Venom Toxins for Research and Therapeutic Purposes.
This innovation was classified as “Tech Ready”, a category reserved for innovations progressing on technology development process, such as pilots and prototypes.
ADDovenom’s pioneering development of synthetic, thermostable, and animal-free antivenoms marks a new era in snakebite treatment. Rooted in synthetic biology, this approach aims to improve access to life-saving therapies in rural regions of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America, areas most affected by snakebite envenoming.
Key achievements of the project include the design of “ADDobodies” (neutralizing proteins selected via ribosome display) and their integration into “ADDomers”, which are virus-like particles capable of carrying up to 60 binding sites. This innovative format significantly enhances toxin neutralization compared to traditional antivenoms.
Additionally, ADDomers are stable at temperatures up to 55°C, eliminating the need for cold-chain logistics and enabling distribution in remote, resource-limited settings.
iBET played a critical role in the project by establishing a GMP-compliant platform to produce customized ADDomers. This was essential for enabling scalable, cost-effective manufacturing, laying the foundation for future clinical development and commercial deployment.
This recognition underscores the transformative potential of ADDovenom’s technology to deliver safer, more effective, and globally accessible antivenoms, offering hope to the over 138,000 people who die each year from snakebites.
Finalized in March 2025, the project was coordinated by the University of Bristol (United Kingdom), and included research partners from the University of Liège (Belgium), Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (United Kingdom), and Aix-Marseille University (France), alongside iBET.
Learn more about the ADDovenom project here and the EU Innovation Radar here.
