Snake venom may replace aspirin as a protein found in the poison of a species native to south-east Asia thins the blood without side effects.
The protein in snake venom slowed the rate of blood clot formation in mice. It
did not cause excessive bleeding, which is a common side effect of existing treatments.
Blood-thinning medications, also known as anti-platelet drugs, prevent specific blood cells from clumping together and forming clots.
Venom of the Tropidolaemus waglerix snake contains a protein, known as trowaglerix, that latches on to the receptor, called GPVI, to block its blood-clotting actions.
The protein was mixed with blood and given to mice. The result shows that the treated mice had slower blood clot formation than animals that did not receive the therapy.