Man bitten by 800 snakes could help scientists create ‘Universal’ antivenom

Scientists might soon be able to develop a universal antivenom that could provide protection against all snake bites.

Scientists are nearing the invention thanks to the blood of Tim Friede, a self-trained herpetologist with hyperimmunity against some of the deadliest snake toxins.

Friede has spent the past two decades training his immune system through more than 800 snakebites. He has had snakebites from cobras, taipans, black mambas, rattlers and more.

Biotech company Centivax is working to develop the universal anti-venom and its CEO Jacob Glanville told Friede, “I would love to get my hands on some of your blood.”

This doesn’t appear to be an easy task as a snake venom consists of nearly 70 toxins and different snakes have different combinations. This makes it difficult to have one universal anti-venom as it might be effective against one type of snake but ineffective against the other.

Centivax discovered that all snake venom toxins are made of 10 protein variations. Glanville said, “We could make a cocktail of antibodies that could be a universal antivenom.”

He said that Friede’s blood would be of great help as antibodies in the latter’s blood might work against several protein structures.

The company has already made an anti-venom that provides protection against 300 species of the elapid family snakes including cobras, mambas, taipans and kraits.