A man's nearly two-decade-long self-immunization project involving snake venom has paved the way for a potential universal antivenom [1, 2]. Tim Friede, over 18 years, injected himself with venom from various deadly snakes, totaling 856 injections, which spurred his body to produce a diverse range of valuable antibodies [1, 2, 4].
Scientists at Columbia University and Centivax harvested these antibodies to create a novel antivenom cocktail [1, 2, 5]. The experimental antivenom protected mice against 13 of 19 deadly snake species in trials [1, 2]. These species are categorized by the World Health Organization as the deadliest within the elapid family [1, 3]. The team believes that incorporating a fourth component could lead to a truly universal antivenom [1].
This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize snakebite treatment, offering a single solution instead of stocking various species-specific antivenoms [1, 2, 5]. It also circumvents compatibility issues often associated with traditional animal-derived antivenoms [2, 6]. Researchers are now focused on refining the antivenom cocktail and exploring the possibility of developing two separate antivenoms tailored to different snake families [1]. The research was published in the journal Cell on May 2, 2025 [1, 2, 3].