Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am having a terrible time sleeping today and I just got wondering if anyone on kingsnake would know much about Naja siamensis and PROven. I know Bill Haast did a lot of work with this and I know of a little bit about use in Germany but can anyone tell me any more about this drug (or others involved with Naja siamensis) and where its capabilities are going?

PROven was a concoction of several Asiatic cobra venoms. Most likely it was what we now call N. naja and/or N. atra. However, at the time is was being promoted all the cobras in Asia were considered to be subspecies of N. naja, and the venoms listed in journals were just called N. naja, with only occasional subspecies listed. The old N. naja siamensis is not N. siamensis today, so it gets really confusing. Anyway, no one really knows what venoms were in PROven because Haast refused to tell the FDA what exactly was in the formula. It could never get FDA approval here in the US because you can not manufacture a drug and give it to people without saying very specifically what is in it and how it is made.
Jim Harrison
KRZ

That was not what I expected. I guess being somewhat young leaves me without that connection to former systematics. I thought it was a bit weird because Naja siamensis is a type of spitting cobra correct? Former N.n.siamensis was not right? I just assumed it would have just been a distinguishable species when all subspecies were dropped from Naja naja. (I hope I am making sense)

I know the drug has been used openly in Germany. Do you have any information on its effectiveness?

By the way...I was wondering if you still poked about these forums Mr. Harrison. I don't remember seeing posts from you in quite a few months. Good to see you again.

I've never heard of PROven before, but is sure sounds odd that Haast keeps the formula a secret; unproffesional anyways.

By the way, did you ever find out what kind of frog that was? I noticed you asked everyone but the frog forum My guess is as good as yours perhaps, did you get much herp'n done with the G/f in Mexico?

Ian

I did ask the frog forum and I think we have in narrowed down to genus...maybe only family.

I did not get much herping done while I was in Mexico. We had some hikes in some pretty lame (herp wise) areas and took a visit to a zoo in a small mexican town that told me I could use hooks to move any of their rattle snakes for photos. Quite a different experience. I will be going back.

We also paid for a guy to take us to a cool spot with a supposed waterfall in the middle of the desert...but he took our money and did not follow through...and since it was the last day in Mexico we missed out.

But it was a good trip for birds and fish.

PROven is a drug made from cobra venom to treat multiple sclerosis. I had some fun news delivered to me in october.

Geez, that's too bad, if it means anything, my wife and son do the MS fundraiser walk each year... perhaps I"ll join in this time

Ian

My ex wife who I am still friends with has MS. Plus my interests in venoms has keep me up on research on MS using venoms. If you would like more info just call or email.
As far as not posting, I have been very busy and also don't like to get into namecalling/emotional arguements.
I addressed what happened and that was the end of it for me.

Take care
Jim Harrison

Had a good friend who's wife had MS. He always too care of her, babied her, watched over her. She went into remission, is fine; he developed a weird neurological problem, and died in less than 2 years. Late 50's. She's still well.
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