Tim Friede, a former truck mechanic from Wisconsin, has spent the past 18 years doing what most people would consider unthinkable: injecting himself with venom from some of the world’s deadliest snakes. His goal was never fame or notoriety — it was to build immunity and, ultimately, save lives. Now, thanks to his extraordinary biological resilience, Friede has helped scientists develop one of the most promising antivenoms to date — a universal treatment that could drastically change how snakebites are managed globally.
The pioneering work, published this week in Cell by researchers from the US biotech firm Centivax, introduces a three-part antivenom cocktail derived from Friede’s antibodies. The mixture provides comprehensive protection against 13 of the World Health Organization’s top 19 most dangerous snake species and partial protection against the rest. For the first time, researchers believe they may be on the path to a single, scalable solution for a long-standing global health crisis.
A Life-Saving Obsession
Friede’s journey began in 2000 with a simple — yet dangerous — idea: immunise himself to the venom of snakes. Inspired by the limitations of existing antivenoms and his own experience caring for a vast collection of venomous snakes, he began cautiously injecting low doses of venom from species including cobras, mambas, taipans, and kraits. His approach involved not just injections, but actual bites — often from snakes capable of killing an adult human within minutes.
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Over nearly two decades, he documented his escalating regimen on YouTube, earning both admiration and concern from the scientific community and reptile enthusiasts alike. In 2001, he spent four days in a coma following a bite from an Egyptian cobra while milking it for venom. He recovered and carried on.
“He was injecting himself with venoms from 16 species that could kill a horse,” said Jacob Glanville, chief executive of Centivax and the lead author of the study. “It blew my mind. I thought: if anyone has properly neutralising antibodies, it’s this guy.”
The Making of a Game-Changing Antivenom
Glanville reached out to Friede after reading about his unconventional project. “He was like, ‘Finally. I’ve been waiting for this call for a long time,’” Glanville recalled.
Friede’s blood, enriched with antibodies from years of calculated exposure to venom, provided a unique starting point. Scientists at Centivax selected 19 snake species from the WHO’s list of most dangerous snakes, focusing first on elapids — a family that includes mambas, cobras, and coral snakes.
Using a combination of high-throughput screening and testing in mice, the team isolated two antibodies from Friede’s blood that offered robust protection. These were then combined with a small-molecule venom inhibitor to produce a cocktail that provided complete protection against 13 of the selected species.
“It’s dramatically unparalleled,” said Glanville. “By the time we reached three components, we had full protection against most of the species we tested. It’s a huge leap.”
What’s particularly impressive is the way Friede’s own immune system had naturally selected for broad-spectrum antibodies. His routine — regularly switching the species of venom used in his injections — essentially trained his immune system to prioritise the production of antibodies that could counter a wide array of venom toxins.
“Had I, as an immunologist, spent a bunch of time thinking about it, I don’t think I would have come up with a better solution,” Glanville added.
The Snakebite Crisis
Snakebites are a major global health challenge, particularly in rural areas of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Each year, snakebites cause an estimated 140,000 deaths and leave over 300,000 people permanently injured. Yet, existing antivenoms are often expensive, species-specific, and derived from animal serum, which carries a risk of severe allergic reactions.
“The idea that you need to identify the snake that bit you — and maybe even catch it and bring it in — just to receive the right treatment is outdated and dangerous,” said Glanville. “A universal, safe, human-derived antivenom could change everything.”
Traditional antivenom production involves injecting horses or sheep with snake venom and harvesting the resulting antibodies. While this approach works, it limits antivenoms to specific species or regions and can result in harmful immune responses in patients.
Friede’s blood, on the other hand, contains human antibodies — a key feature that may reduce the risk of adverse reactions and could be mass-produced more easily using modern biotechnology.
Field Testing and What Comes Next
The research team is already planning the next phase: real-world testing. The initial field trials will take place in Australia, where the antivenom will be used to treat dogs bitten by snakes — a common veterinary emergency. Human trials are expected to follow.
While the current cocktail focuses on elapid snakes, Friede has also immunised himself against venom from vipers — the family responsible for most snakebite fatalities worldwide, particularly in Africa and South Asia. A separate cocktail for viper venom is now in development using the same strategy.
“The breadth of protection is novel,” said Prof Nicholas Casewell, director of the Centre for Snakebite Research at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, who was not involved in the study. “Combining relatively few antibodies and drugs together appears feasible and could lead to future therapies that help patients in many different parts of the world.”
The Power of One
Despite the scientific and medical significance of this breakthrough, Friede remains a singular, somewhat controversial figure in the world of toxinology. His willingness to risk his own health has opened doors previously thought closed, but it also raises questions about ethics and safety.
Yet the results speak volumes. Friede’s story — one of determination, obsession, and ultimately contribution — has offered researchers a new foundation upon which to build.
“Our method could be adapted for other venomous species,” said Glanville. “It could help us understand the pathologies of venom in a way we couldn’t before. And more importantly, it could help save lives.”
From rural clinics in sub-Saharan Africa to urban hospitals in Asia and the Americas, the dream of a universal antivenom — one that doesn’t depend on the species or region of the bite — is finally within reach. And it’s all thanks to a man who let himself be bitten, over and over again, so others wouldn’t have to fear the same fate.
