For nearly twenty years, Tim Friede, a man from Wisconsin, has been injecting himself with small amounts of snake venom and even letting snakes bite him to build resistance. His dangerous experiment began from a deep interest in reptiles and venomous animals. Recently, scientists have begun studying his blood to help create a new kind of antivenom. The World Health Organization says snakebites cause around 110,000 deaths each year, mostly in places with poor access to medical care. Current antivenoms are costly, made for specific snakes, and can cause allergic reactions because they use animal antibodies. A study in the journal Cell shared that researchers, including Peter Kwong from Columbia University, found two rare antibodies in Friede’s blood. These can fight venom from several snakes like cobras and black mambas.

Experts hope these antibodies could lead to a cheaper, safer, and more effective antivenom. So far, tests in mice look good, but human trials are still far off. Though it does not work for all snakes, such as vipers, scientists like Nicholas Casewell say the results are promising. Friede now works for Centivax but warns others not to copy his risky methods. His extraordinary antibodies offer hope, but only trained researchers should handle such work.