• Snake envenoming is among the Neglected Tropical Diseases, leading to significant mortality and disability in certain communities.

• A recent study by Sorenson et al. published in Nature Communications suggests the causation of antibody-dependent enhancement of toxicity (ADET) by a potential therapeutic human monoclonal antibody.

• This antibody was used to neutralize myotoxin-II from the pit viper Bothrops asper in representative mouse models, thereby increasing the toxin’s toxicity.

• This report  ADET of a toxin in animal studies highlights the necessity of assessing even well-known antibody formats in preclinical models to avoid potential deleterious effects as exemplified in the present study.

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