In the exciting field of immunology, a remarkable story emerged about the journey of Tim Friede, a self-taught snake expert from California. His peculiar practice of injecting himself with the venom of some of the world’s most venomous snakes—including cobras, mambas, and rattlesnakes—caught the attention of researcher Jacob Glanville in 2017. Media reports portrayed Friede’s actions as irrational, labeling him as a “crazy guy,” but Glanville saw potential. This overlooked, albeit unconventional tale represented a unique opportunity to bridge science and an unusual method of immunity.
With an inquisitive mind, Glanville approached Friede, expressing interest in analyzing his blood. To Glanville’s relief, Friede was eagerly awaiting such a conversation, as he had meticulously documented his self-immunization process over an 18-year span. The partnership that followed was transformative. Friede donated a 40-milliliter blood sample, enabling Glanville’s team, which included Peter Kwong of Columbia University, to explore the creation of new antivenoms effective against several snake species.
Published recently in the esteemed journal Cell, their groundbreaking research announced the development of an antivenom capable of neutralizing bites from 19 different venomous snake species in experimental mice. The concoction utilized antibodies extracted from Friede’s blood combined with a venom-inhibiting drug. Glanville remarked on the unparalleled variety of toxins Friede had exposed himself to across continents, emphasizing the abundance of valuable data collected through careful documentation of his experiences.
Despite the promising outcome of their findings, Glanville cautioned against recreating Friede’s methods, noting snake venom’s intrinsic dangers. In fact, Friede discontinued self-immunization in 2018 due to alarming incidents, and he now contributes his expertise to Glanville’s biotechnology company, Centivax. The duo’s joint endeavor represents not only scientific innovation but also underscores the unique blending of unconventional experiences with rigorous scientific inquiry.
Traditionally, antivenoms have been produced through a labor-intensive and dangerous process, involving the milking of snake venom and the immunization of animals—typically horses—in order to create an immune response. This outdated method has numerous challenges, including a significant risk of side effects from the resulting serum. The urgency for developing more effective treatments became apparent due to alarming statistics: snakes claim approximately 200 lives each day and inflict disabilities on 400,000 people annually, majorly in developing countries. The World Health Organization elevated snakebites to the status of neglected tropical diseases in 2017, fueling calls for better remedies.
Growing up in rural Guatemala, Glanville was acutely aware of the deadly implications of snakebites and recognized the exceptional potential in Friede’s experience with snake venom. By exposing himself repeatedly to the toxins, Friede generated valuable antibodies, triggering a scientific investigation into their effectiveness against various neurotoxins.
The researchers utilized Friede’s blood to isolate specific antibodies that effectively neutralized toxins from the examined 19 snake species, allowing for systematic testing. They meticulously evaluated each antibody’s efficacy in mice exposed to different snake venoms and subsequently combined two potent antibodies with a small-molecule drug known as varespladib, which counters an enzyme found in the majority of snakebites.
The resulting antivenom demonstrated remarkable capabilities, offering 100% protection for 13 species and partial protection for the remaining six. Steven Hall, a snakebite pharmacologist at Lancaster University in the UK, lauded the innovative approach, highlighting its potential benefits in minimizing side effects compared to traditional antivenoms derived from animal sources.
Despite encouraging results, the research is still in early stages, and clinical testing on humans is yet to be conducted. Nonetheless, the application of human-derived antibodies holds promise for revolutionizing snakebite treatment methodologies. Columbia’s Kwong, who collaborated on the research, noted that while their initial focus was on elapid snakes, they are researching additional antibodies to provide coverage for the viperid family as well.
With plans to continue the investigation, the research team aims to explore the potential of their antivenom in the field, beginning with trials in Australia where elapid snakes are prevalent. The final goal is to produce a pan-antivenom cocktail or potentially separate antivenoms targeting both snake families, signaling a hopeful advancement in snakebite treatment solutions.
