# Suramin for Recluse Spider Bites

> **NIH NIH R41** · STOECKER & ASSOCIATES · 2021 · $188,887

## Abstract

Suramin for Recluse Spider Bites: SpiderTek, a biotechnology company that developed the first spider bite
diagnostic test, proposes therapy for bites due to Loxoscelesthre erecclulseusspiade,r, using suramin, a
century-old treatment for African sleeping sickness. A population of 80 million in the South-Central US shares
homes with the recluse spider. Each year, an estimated 30,000 persons suffer recluse spider bites that can
result in painful, slowly healing wounds. Hundreds of patients annually develop hemolysis, which can be
severe, especially in children and older persons. Therapy in the United States is limited to supportive
measures. With accurate diagnosis now available, the next step is to develop an effective treatment. We
propose a therapeutic solution based on the discovery that the suramin molecule binds to phospholipase D,
the active component in the recluse spider venom.
The overall objective of the proposed research is to develop an optimized therapy for these spider bites. Phase
I will determine the therapeutic constraints of suramin therapy in loxoscelism. First, we will determine the range
of the effective in-vivo dose as we vary suramin dose. Next, we will determine the time window for effective
treatment—how soon after the bite does treatment have to occur to be effective? Finally, we will compare
suramin injection with a novel topical administration technique, which will enable patients to avoid emergency
room visits. The proposed research will provide basic proof-of-concept for our proposed suramin therapy for
loxoscelism and enable us to develop a human trial in planned Phase II research.
Finally, our interdisciplinary research team involves collaboration between privately held SpiderTek and the
University of Missouri. Both entities are located in rural Missouri, where the incidence of loxoscelism is high.
The team features multidisciplinary expertise, including an animal scientist, developer of the first ELISA-based
pregnancy test for cattle as well as our spider bite diagnostic test, a dermatologist with extensive experience in
recluse spider bites, and a widely recognized developer of topical formulations. With previous successful
experience in bringing the first spider bite test to market and with strong existing collaborations between the
principal investigator and his colleagues, the team is uniquely positioned to perform the proposed research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10258847
- **Project number:** 1R41AR079340-01
- **Recipient organization:** STOECKER & ASSOCIATES
- **Principal Investigator:** JONATHAN A GREEN
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $188,887
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-15 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10258847

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10258847, Suramin for Recluse Spider Bites (1R41AR079340-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10258847. Licensed CC0.

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