In a daring and unconventional approach to tackling a global health issue, Tim Friede, a 57-year-old from Two Rivers, Wisconsin, has spent nearly two decades injecting himself with escalating doses of snake venom. His goal was to build immunity against the venom of 16 deadly snake species, including cobras and mambas. Over the years, he has allowed snakes to bite him approximately 200 times, a risky endeavor that has now yielded significant scientific advancements.
Scientists have identified antibodies in Mr. Friede's blood capable of neutralizing the venom from various snake species. This discovery, reported in the journal Cell, marks a crucial step towards developing a universal antivenom. Snakebites affect up to 2.7 million people annually, resulting in about 120,000 deaths and 400,000 injuries. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher, as many cases go unreported.
The threat of snakebites has increased due to factors like deforestation, human encroachment, and climate change. However, research on antivenoms has not kept pace with the growing demand. Jacob Glanville, founder and CEO of Centivax, is leading efforts to produce broad-spectrum vaccines. His team's study found that combining two powerful antibodies from Mr. Friede’s blood with a drug that blocks neurotoxins could protect mice from the venom of 19 deadly snake species across different regions.
This breakthrough is noteworthy because most existing antivenoms are specific to a single species or a few related species within a geographic area. Nicholas Casewell, a researcher at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, highlighted the potential of this study to guide the development of treatments against various snake families.
Tim Friede's fascination with snakes began at age five after a harmless encounter with a garter snake. It wasn't until he was married with children that he began experimenting with venom, initially with scorpions and then snakes. Despite a close call in 2001, when he fell into a coma after being bitten by cobras, Mr. Friede continued his research, refining his methods to build immunity systematically.
His work has not been without mishaps, as he endured accidental bites, anaphylactic shocks, and other side effects. He considers himself a "nondegree scientist," learning through experience rather than formal education. Over the years, his blood samples were studied by various scientists, but it was only when he met Dr. Glanville in 2017 that significant progress was made.
Dr. Glanville, in collaboration with vaccine researcher Peter Kwong, isolated broadly acting antibodies from Mr. Friede’s blood, creating a treatment that showed promising results in mice. This combination of antibodies and a small molecule called varespladib provided full protection against 13 snake species and partial protection against six others.
Snake venoms are complex, with species-specific blends of toxins that vary by region, age, diet, and season. Traditional antivenoms are produced by injecting small amounts of venom into animals like horses, then harvesting the antibodies. However, these can cause allergic reactions in humans. Scientists are now exploring cocktails of small molecule drugs and monoclonal antibodies to offer broader protection without adverse effects.
The next phase of research involves testing the treatment on dogs in Australia suffering from snakebites. Researchers also hope to identify additional components, possibly from Mr. Friede’s blood, to extend protection to all 19 snake species studied.
Although Mr. Friede stopped allowing snake bites in 2018, he remains optimistic about future contributions to antivenom research. He fondly recalls his time with snakes but acknowledges the toll it took on his personal life, including a divorce. For now, he's content with his achievements and the potential impact on global health.