In a groundbreaking development reported by Nature, scientists have created a broad-spectrum antivenom using antibodies derived from a man who has survived hundreds of venomous snake bites. The new treatment, which also includes the experimental drug varespladib, has successfully protected mice from lethal doses of venom from 19 highly dangerous elapid snake species, including the king cobra.
The source of the key antibodies is Tim Friede, a U.S. reptile enthusiast and self-proclaimed “hyper-immune” individual, who has injected himself with more than 600 doses of venom over the years and has been bitten around 200 times by venomous snakes. His extreme efforts to build immunity, while not medically advised, have yielded antibodies that researchers say could revolutionize antivenom development.
The findings were published this week in the journal Cell, and the research has raised both hopes for more effective treatments and questions about medical ethics. “We did not advise Friede to do this and no one else needs to do this again — we have all the molecules we need,” said Jacob Glanville, co-author and CEO of the biotech firm Centivax, which led the study.
Unlike traditional antivenoms, which are typically produced by injecting venom into animals like horses, the new approach uses monoclonal antibodies — exact copies of human antibodies — designed to target key snake toxins. These are combined with varespladib, a drug that inhibits an enzyme common to many venom types.
To test the cocktail’s effectiveness, Glanville’s team collected blood from Friede after securing informed consent and approval from an ethics board. From the blood, they isolated antibodies capable of neutralizing both short- and long-chain neurotoxins found in elapid venom. When administered alongside varespladib, two of the antibodies enabled mice to survive what would otherwise have been fatal envenomations.
“This shows the potential of combining targeted antibodies with a known small-molecule inhibitor,” said co-author Peter Kwong of Columbia University. The researchers believe this human-derived cocktail may lead to safer treatments with fewer allergic reactions compared to animal-based antivenoms.
However, experts are cautious. Kartik Sunagar, an antivenom researcher at the Indian Institute of Science, praised the study’s execution but criticized the reliance on self-experimentation. He and others also questioned whether the new antibodies could be manufactured affordably and at scale.
Jean-Philippe Chippaux, a leading expert in venomous snake bites, added that logistical challenges — not scientific limitations — are often the main barrier in treating snakebite victims. “We need to focus on making antivenoms more accessible in regions where snake bites occur and ensure that patients seek care quickly,” he said.
Centivax now plans to begin field trials by testing the antivenom in dogs bitten by snakes in Australia. If the treatment proves effective, it may eventually be adapted for human use.
Despite the ethical debate, the research marks a significant advance in the fight against snakebite, a condition that causes up to 138,000 deaths globally each year, mostly in developing countries. As Glanville put it, “We’re hopeful this new strategy could be a game-changer — but it’s early days, and much work remains.”
