Antitoxin, imported from India at very high costs, has left 80 per cent of patients with side effects, said Prof. Gavarammana at a media briefing in Kandy yesterday (23).

Vice chancellor Prof. Upul Dissanayake said the newly-developed antitoxin reduces 90 pc of side effects and was four-times more powerful than the Indian one.

He said the new antitoxin will be used for clinical tests from February next year.

More than 40,000 are admitted to hospitals with snake bites every year and between 100 and 200 of them die.