Ophirex, Inc.
Biotechnology ResearchCalifornia, United States11-50 Employees
Ophirex, Inc. is a Public Benefit Corporation in the biotechnology research space, headquartered in Corte Madera, California. It is developing varespladib, an oral rescue therapy intended to be administered at the moment of a snakebite to rapidly counteract venom effects. Varespladib inhibits secretory phospholipase A2, a toxin common to the vast majority of venomous snakes, with development for use in both humans and dogs. The company operates within the snakebite envenomation field, aiming to change the treatment approach by enabling early self-administration. Global snakebite figures point to 4–5 million bites annually, roughly 125,000 deaths, and about 400,000 permanent disabilities, with about 75% of deaths occurring before hospital arrival; in the United States, around 50,000 dogs are bitten by venomous snakes each year. In February 2026, Ophirex signed a new client and announced an agreement to produce marimastat for the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, reflecting ongoing expansion of its partnerships.