Doctors are concerned that stocks of anti-venom are running low around the world.
Dr. Richard Clark from UC San Diego Health is an expert in treating snake bite victims. He said, "I think the big deal about antivenoms and shortages in the world right now is that drug companies that make any kind of pharmaceutical product, only make it if it's profitable. And the problem with antivenoms is they tend to be fairly expensive to produce."
It's expensive to produce and there is not enough demand -- so little in fact, that the pharmaceutical company that produced antivenom products stopped making them in 2003. The Food and Drug Administration stepped in and extended the expiration dates of the last remaining supplies to last until June 2016. Clark says it will likely last even longer.
"So, there's still expired antivenom around that we know still works. One day that will be gone unless a company starts to make the coral snake antivenom again," said Clark.
In a case of a lifesaving drug, is it unreasonable to expect a pharmaceutical company to continue making it even though they would make higher profits elsewhere? Is this a good place for governmental incentives?
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 24 2016, @09:19PM
You're gonna die in 5 minutes.
So you're saying I have nothing to lose if I bite your dick off.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Ethanol-fueled on Thursday November 24 2016, @09:33PM
The best cure for evenomation of the Alabama Black Snake is malt liquor.
Although this fine specimen of Alabama Black Snake is too large for your purty little mouth to bite off.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 24 2016, @09:38PM
too large for your purty little mouth to bite off
Can't chop down a tree with an axe, dumb nigger?
It'll take a few bites, but your dick is coming off. There will be blood. And pain.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 25 2016, @03:07AM
You must be new here.