In the context of my master's project I'm searching for good drugs candidate that can have an neutralizing effect over SVMPs. I've searched in the literature and I found doxycycline acts as zinc chelator to inhibit SVMPs actions. I would be delighted for any of your answers.
According to this referenceArticle Assessment of metalloproteinase inhibitors clodronate and do...
it seems that doxycycline is not potent enough for the job.
"Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) play a prominent role in the local and systemic manifestations of viperid snakebite envenomations. Thus, the possibility of using metalloproteinase inhibitors in the treatment of these envenomations is a promising therapeutic alternative. This study assessed the ability of two metalloproteinase inhibitors, the biphosphonate clodronate and the tetracycline doxycycline, to inhibit proteolytic, hemorrhagic, coagulant and defibrinogenating effects of Bothrops asper venom. Both compounds were able to inhibit these activities, at concentrations in the mM range, when incubated with venom prior to testing. However, when inhibition of hemorrhage was assessed in assays involving independent injection of venom and drug, inhibition was poor, even when these compounds were injected immediately after envenomation. These findings support the concept that the effectiveness of compounds, such as clodronate and doxycycline, whose inhibitory action on SVMPs is based on zinc chelation alone, is limited, and stress the view that more specific molecules are required for an effective inhibition of SVMPs in vivo."
The problem would be to achieve sufficient inhibition of the enzyme with a concentration of the drug that is achievable in the blood over the necessary time period without serious toxicity.
Chelation therapy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelation_therapy) is used to treat heavy metal poisoning, although it is a relatively unsafe method. The agents used for chelation therapy might also inhibit SVMPs.
Also, metalloproteinase is presumably only one component of the snake venom, so it might not be sufficient to treat the victim with a drug that inhibits only that enzyme.
Dr. Adam B Shapiro , thank you for your response. You are correct about the effectiveness of doxycycline and chelation therapy. I have already read the article you mentioned. However, I do not have access to specific SVMPs inhibitors, so I am considering using alternative treatments such as doxycycline. Once again, thank you for your input.
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