An American Man Voluntarily Endured the World’s Deadliest Snake Bites for 20 Years

Former computer specialist Tim Friede, an American citizen, has voluntarily subjected himself to over 200 bites and around 700 venom injections from the world’s most venomous snakes over the course of 20 years – all in pursuit of developing a universal antivenom.

His unusual experiments began after a near-death experience when two cobras attacked him, and only a miracle saved his life. Surviving that moment convinced Tim that he had super immunity and would never die from a venomous bite again. But this journey led to something much greater.

Over time, his body developed resistance to the venom, and his blood essentially became a universal antivenom, capable of neutralizing toxins from a variety of snake species.

Based on Tim Friede’s unique biology, researchers began working toward a universal antivenom, which could revolutionize medicine and save thousands of lives worldwide.

Currently, antivenom is produced by injecting small doses of venom into animals like horses. Their immune systems fight the venom and generate antibodies, which are then extracted and used as therapy.

However, the effectiveness of antivenom depends on matching the venom, as toxins vary between species – even within the same species, there are differences. For example, antivenom developed in India may be less effective against the same species in Sri Lanka.

A group of scientists began searching for a form of immune defense called broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). Instead of targeting the unique parts of the venom, they focused on the structural components shared across entire venom families.

That’s when Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, a biotech company, met Tim Friede.

“I immediately thought, ‘If anyone on Earth has developed these broadly neutralizing antibodies, it’s him,’” said Glanville.