Timber Rattlesnake Bites Snake Venom Snake venom is composed of complex proteins which act upon the nervous and circulatory systems.
Snake venom holds promise for a variety of medical uses.
Pit viper venom contains an enzyme that digests the walls of blood vessels, leading to internal hemorrhaging, and a natural anticoagulant that prevents blood clotting. The anticoagulant is the subject of recent pharmacological research. Robert Gould at the Merck research labs in Pennsylvania found a new family of proteins with anticoagulant properties in pit viper venoms, which they named disintegrins. They ultimately isloated Aggrastat, a drug which has already undergone three clinical trials and may be approved for distribution this year. Scientists at the Montreal Heart Institute, who conducted the phase-three trials, believe the drug could save as many as 10,000 lives a year.