A man who has spent nearly two decades injecting himself with snake venom may hold the key to developing a universal antivenom, scientists say.
Tim Friede, a former truck mechanic from the United States, has endured over 200 snakebites and more than 700 venom injections in a personal quest to build immunity. Researchers say his blood contains rare antibodies that could revolutionize snakebite treatment worldwide.
In laboratory studies, these antibodies—developed through years of exposure to deadly venom from cobras, mambas, kraits, and taipans—have shown unprecedented animal testing protection against various venom types. Unlike current antivenoms, which must be matched to the specific snake species, Friede’s antibodies offer broad protection, particularly against the neurotoxins used by elapids, a family of venomous snakes responsible for many of the world’s deadliest bites.
“Tim’s immune system did something truly extraordinary,” said Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of biotech firm Centivax, which led the research. “He essentially trained his body to produce antibodies with an extensive recognition of toxins.”
The project began when Dr. Glanville contacted Friede after learning about his experiments, which were documented on YouTube. Ethical approval was granted to extract blood samples from Friede—without administering further venom—to search for what scientists call “broadly neutralizing antibodies.” These unique immune responses target common components across multiple snake toxins rather than the specific elements found in a single species.
The team focused on 19 elapid snakes classified by the World Health Organization as among the most lethal. When combined with a third compound, two key antibodies identified from Friede’s blood created a three-part cocktail that protected mice from fatal doses of 13 of the 19 venoms tested and offered partial protection against the remaining six.
“This is an unparalleled level of coverage,” said Dr. Glanville. “It’s a leap toward a universal antivenom, particularly for elapids.”
Current antivenoms are produced by injecting venom into animals, such as horses, and harvesting the antibodies their immune systems produce. However, variations in venom between species—and even within the same species across different regions—limit the effectiveness of these treatments. A more universally effective therapy could save tens of thousands of lives each year; the WHO estimates that up to 140,000 people die annually from snakebites, with many more suffering amputations or permanent disabilities.
Researchers are now working to refine Friede’s antibodies further and explore expanding the treatment to include other types of snake venom, such as the haemotoxins found in vipers. Experts believe a fully comprehensive antivenom—either as a single injection or as separate treatments for different snake families—could become a reality within 10 to 15 years.
“This research moves the field forward in a promising direction,” said Professor Nick Casewell of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. While he cautioned that significant testing remains before any human application, he described the study’s findings as “novel and encouraging.”
For Friede, the results are the culmination of years of personal sacrifice. Early in his journey, he nearly died from cobra bites, turning his self-immunization mission into a humanitarian goal.
“I just kept pushing for the people who are 8,000 miles away from me and die from snakebite,” Friede said. “Now, I know I’ve done something that might help save lives. That makes it all worth it.”
