An American man who deliberately allowed himself to be bitten by venomous snakes over 200 times may hold the key to developing a universal antivenom, according to recent research published in the international journal Cell.
Tim Friede, a 57-year-old former truck mechanic, spent 18 years subjecting himself to snake bites and venom injections in an attempt to immunize himself against deadly venom.
Researchers took notice of Friede's unique immunity. Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of the biotech company Centivax, discovered Friede's story and believed that his blood could aid in creating antibodies against snake venoms. "Even though it sounds strange, it would be great to get some of your blood," Glanville told Friede, according to BBC News.
In experiments conducted on mice, scientists developed an antidote using antibodies extracted from Friede's blood. This antidote was tested against the venoms of 19 species of snakes classified by the World Health Organization as the most deadly, including cobras and elapids.
The results were promising: the antidote had a perfect neutralizing effect against 13 of the 19 species and provided partial protection against the remaining six.
Glanville's research team is working on developing broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies that are effective against snake venom. They are searching for a type of antibody that works against common components found in all venoms.
"This antivenom is unparalleled because it works against many elapid species of snakes for which there is currently no effective antivenom," said Glanville. Currently, to neutralize different snake venoms, different antivenoms must be used, as the therapies available are specific to each species of snake.
Antivenom is traditionally produced by injecting small doses of snake venom into animals like horses. The animals' immune systems produce antibodies against the venom, which are then collected and used as therapy. This method poses challenges, especially in areas with limited access to medical care.
Friede's journey has not been without peril. He documented his experiences on YouTube, showing himself being bitten by snakes and injecting venom to build his own immunity. There have been near-death experiences: once, he ended up in a coma after being bitten by two cobras in quick succession following his consumption of cobra meat.
Despite the risks, Friede remains driven by a desire to help others. "I am doing something good for humanity, and that was very important to me. I am proud of it. It's a great feeling. At one point, it became part of my lifestyle. I kept pushing myself forward—for those who are dying from snake bites eight thousand miles away from me," he said.
The ultimate goal of the research is to create a single antivenom that works against all venoms, or at least an injection effective for elapids and another for vipers.
However, this objective is still distant. "There is still a lot of work to be done," cautioned Glanville, emphasizing that extensive testing is needed before this antivenom can be used on humans."Tim's antibodies are truly remarkable—he has taught his immune system how to recognize venom very broadly," said Professor Peter Quang of Columbia University.
Snakebites pose a global health challenge. Every year, nearly 140,000 people die worldwide from snake bites, and more than three times that number suffer amputations or permanent disabilities. Injuries and deaths due to snakebites are difficult to prevent, especially in regions like India.
The research team continued to work with Friede's blood samples. They attempted to further improve the antibodies and investigate whether adding a fourth component can provide complete protection against elapid snake venoms. "Research is still ongoing," noted Glanville."The immense potential created in this research to protect from snake bites will be very beneficial for humanity," stated Professor Nick Casewell, head of the snake venom research and medicine department at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.