Snake venom’s shocking price revealed, more precious than gold

Dharampur (The Uttam Hindu): The price of one gram of gold is currently around ₹14,000, but snake venom is far more expensive. One gram of venom can sell for nearly 13,000 dollars, which equals more than ₹10 lakh. At that price, a person could buy about 78 to 80 grams of 24-carat gold. The extraordinary value of snake venom recently drew attention during an e-auction held at a research institute in Dharampur, Gujarat, where venom from highly dangerous snakes such as cobras and Russell’s vipers fetched prices much higher than expected. Although deadly, this venom is an important raw material for producing essential medicines.

Deadly venom used to save lives

Data from the World Health Organization shows that around 3,000 species of snakes exist worldwide, but only about 10 percent are venomous. Even so, snakebites cause nearly 140,000 deaths each year. Some highly venomous species can inject enough poison in a single bite to kill many people. The same venom is used to manufacture antivenom, which is crucial for saving victims of snakebites. This medical importance keeps demand and prices consistently high.

Complex and risky extraction process

Snake venom is produced in specialized glands located behind the snake’s head. Extracting it for medical use requires great care and expertise. Typically, the snake is made to bite onto a specially designed container so the venom can be safely collected. In some cases, trained experts extract venom directly from the glands. Depending on the species, the amount collected at one time can range from a few milligrams to several hundred milligrams.

High demand in medicine and research

Snake venom is not only used to produce antivenom but also plays a major role in developing medicines such as pain relievers, blood-clotting regulators, and antiviral and antibacterial drugs. Venom from species like the king cobra is especially valued because of its protein content and medical applications, including treatment of severe chronic pain. Some types of venom can sell for thousands of dollars per gram, making them many times more valuable than gold.