Ophirex is a public benefit corporation dedicated to addressing the global health challenges posed by snakebites and other life-threatening bites and stings, as well as related diseases and conditions. With a strong vision and commitment, Ophirex focuses on developing an affordable and accessible oral treatment for snakebite envenoming. Their lead drug candidate, varespladib, effectively blocks sPLA2, a highly toxic component found in at least 95 percent of snake venom types.

Designed for both human and veterinary use, varespladib is available in oral and intravenous formulations, catering to field use and medical settings, respectively. Ophirex's innovative treatment has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives annually, reducing morbidity and mortality associated with snakebites while significantly decreasing healthcare costs. The motivation behind Ophirex's establishment can be traced back to a tragic incident in 2001, when a researcher lost his life to a snakebite without access to antivenom.

This heartbreaking event inspired the Academy's expedition physician, Dr. Matthew Lewin, to envision field treatments that could alleviate the suffering of people affected by snakebites worldwide. In collaboration with renowned musician and entrepreneur Jerry Harrison, Ophirex was launched with the mission to raise awareness about snakebite as a neglected tropical disease