Скачать или смотреть The Self-Made Immune Man: Tim Friede’s Role in Creating a Universal Antivenom for Deadly Snakebites

THE MAN WHO IMMUNIZED HIMSELF AGAINST DEADLY SNAKES — AND HELPED CREATE A REVOLUTIONARY UNIVERSAL ANTIVENOM

What happens when curiosity meets extreme self-experimentation? This is the incredible story of Tim Friede, a self-taught snake expert from California, and Dr. Jacob Glanville, immunologist and CEO of Centivax, whose partnership could change how we fight deadly snakebites.

Snakebites are a major global health issue. Over 200 people die each day, with another 400,000 left disabled annually. Traditionally, antivenoms are made using horses — an old process that is slow, expensive, and often causes allergic reactions.

A new solution was needed.

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THE SELF-MADE IMMUNE MAN

For 18 years, Friede injected himself with venom from cobras, mambas, rattlesnakes, and more. His goal? Immunity.

Though many thought him reckless, Friede carefully documented every bite and reaction. Over time, he built immunity to numerous snake neurotoxins.

Dr. Jacob Glanville saw an opportunity. After reading about Friede’s journey, he reached out and asked for a blood sample to study. Friede, eager to help science, agreed.

In 2018, he donated a 40-milliliter blood sample — setting the stage for a scientific breakthrough.

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FROM BLOOD TO BREAKTHROUGH

Glanville’s team, alongside Columbia University’s Dr. Peter Kwong, isolated antibodies from Friede’s blood that reacted to venom from 19 snake species, including mambas, kraits, coral snakes, and taipans.

They combined these antibodies with varespladib, a drug that blocks a venom enzyme found in 95% of snake species.

The result:
• Two antibodies (LNX-D09 and SNX-B03) from Friede’s blood
• Varespladib

This cocktail offered 100% protection in mice from 13 species and partial protection from the other 6.

Experts say this approach could greatly reduce side effects and revolutionize snakebite care.

“If this makes it to people, it would be revolutionary.”
— Steven Hall, Snakebite Pharmacologist


NEXT STEPS

While the antivenom has only been tested in mice, the team plans to:
• Advance to human trials
• Expand protection to viperid snakes (rattlesnakes, vipers)
• Begin field studies in Australia, where only elapids exist, including possible veterinary use

Ultimately, they envision either:
• One universal antivenom, or
• Two products: one for elapids and another for viperids.


A PERSONAL MISSION

Friede stopped injecting himself in 2018 and now works at Centivax. Glanville, who grew up in rural Guatemala where snakebites were common, is driven to make global antivenom safer, more accessible, and more effective.

The work, published in Cell, shows how unconventional paths and collaboration can solve urgent medical problems.

“Snake venom is dangerous — do not try this. But Tim’s contribution could help save countless lives.”

If successful, this breakthrough may change the future of antivenom and help solve a global health crisis.


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