Illustrated News
Man Endures 200 Snake Bites to Aid Development of Universal Antivenom
May 17, 2025
Tim Friede, a self-taught venom expert from Wisconsin, has subjected himself to over 200 venomous snake bites and more than 700 venom injections over nearly two decades. His goal was to build immunity to various snake venoms, a pursuit that nearly cost him his life on multiple occasions.
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Despite these risks, Friede’s unique immune response has provided scientists with valuable antibodies that are now being used to develop a universal antivenom.
Researchers, including immunologist Jacob Glanville of Centivax, have combined antibodies from Friede’s blood with the anti-inflammatory agent varespladib to create an experimental antivenom. In mouse trials, this cocktail offered full protection against 13 of the World Health Organization’s 19 most dangerous snake species and partial protection against the remaining six.
This development marks a significant step toward a universal antivenom, potentially reducing the global death toll from snakebites, which currently stands at approximately 140,000 annually.
Source: NPR