google.com, pub-3998556743903564, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 A Self-Immunised Man’s Blood Yields Breakthrough In Snake Antivenom

A Self-Immunised Man’s Blood Yields Breakthrough In Snake Antivenom

  Injected Himself With Snake Venom 856 Times

By  Heraldviews

For 18 years, Tim Friede, a Wisconsin man, has injected himself with venom from the world’s deadliest snakes, some 856 times in total. His gruelling experiment has now borne fruit: researchers claim to have developed the most broadly effective snake antivenom to date, using antibodies harvested from Mr Friede’s blood.

Published on Saturday, the study describes an antibody “cocktail” that, in mice, provided protection against 19 species of snake, including Australia’s eastern brown snake and inland taipan. Traditional antivenoms, made by immunising horses with small doses of venom, are typically effective against only one or a few species. “The current technology hasn’t really changed in over 100 years,” says Peter Kwong, a biochemist at Columbia University and co-author of the study. The new approach, he says, leverages modern antibody therapy.

The research team, led by Jacob Glanville of Centivax, a biotech start-up, identified three antibodies—two from Mr Friede’s blood—that together neutralised venom from the elapid family of snakes. In mice, the treatment offered full protection against 13 species and partial protection against six others. The next step is to expand coverage to vipers, a group responsible for the majority of snakebite deaths globally.

Mr Friede’s extreme method of self-immunisation began in the early 2000s as a way to protect himself from his pet snakes. Over time, his body developed a robust antibody response. “This was his lifelong project,” says Dr Glanville. But experts warn against replicating his dangerous experiment. “It’s fun to put him in the loop, but it’s not the only way,” says Timothy Jackson of the University of Melbourne’s Australian Venom Research Unit.

The team hopes to produce a universal antivenom that is cheaper, longer-lasting and more accessible than current treatments, a critical goal for regions like South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where snakebites kill tens of thousands annually. Yet hurdles remain, including clinical trials in larger animals and humans. “Having a good drug is the easy part,” says Dr Jackson. “The real challenge is ensuring it reaches those who need it most.”

 

With additional agency report

 

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