Fried’s Fearless Feats Forge Universal Antivenom
Conventional antivenoms are typically species-specific, developed by injecting venom into horses or sheep to produce antibodies, often resulting in adverse side effects. However, a groundbreaking development has emerged in the form of a powerful new antivenom cocktail derived from human blood—specifically that of an American man named Tim Friede.
This novel antivenom, developed by US-based biotech company Centivax, combines two protective antibodies and one small molecule inhibitor extracted from Friede’s blood. The cocktail has proven to offer full protection against 13 out of 19 of the world’s deadliest snake species, with partial protection against the remaining six, according to a report by the BBC.
Laboratory tests on animals have shown that the antibodies present in Friede’s blood are effective against a broad range of lethal snake venoms. Remarkably, Friede has spent two decades deliberately injecting himself with snake venom—both through direct bites and via syringes. His self-experimentation includes enduring over 200 bites from dangerous snakes such as mambas, cobras, taipans, and kraits, along with more than 700 venom injections.
Scientists have described the antibody produced in Friede’s blood as “extraordinary.” They believe that his 18-year journey could play a revolutionary role in developing a universal antivenom that can treat bites from all venomous snakes in the future.
Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax and lead author of the research, stated, “Friede has been injecting himself with venom from snakes that could kill a horse for 18 years. That’s incredible! But I want to be clear—what he has done should not be attempted by anyone else. Snake venom is extremely dangerous.”
According to reports, Friede initially sought to build immunity for protection while handling venomous snakes in YouTube videos. A former truck mechanic, he revealed that he was devastated early in his experiments when two consecutive cobra bites sent him into a coma. “I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to lose a finger. But now, what matters most to me is that I am doing something good for humanity. I’m proud of that,” he told the BBC.
