A man who voluntarily injected himself with snake venom 856 times over 18 years has provided the inspiration and antibodies scientists needed to develop a new drug which protects against bites from 19 different snake species – including Australia’s deadly eastern brown snakes, inland taipans and tiger snakes.

Self-described snake venom expert Tim Friede, from the US state of Wisconsin, began collecting venomous snakes around 2000. He then started self-administering diluted venom in escalating doses with the goal of achieving a high level of immunity. 

However, over many years and hundreds of injections, Friede slowly generated antibodies in his body which could neutralise a range of snake venoms.

Stumbling upon Friede’s work online, scientists realised his potential.

“The donor, for a period of nearly 18 years, had undertaken hundreds of bites and self-immunisations with escalating doses from 16 species of very lethal snakes that would normally a kill a horse,” first author Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, said.

After Friede agreed to participate in a study, researchers found that by exposing himself to the venom of various snakes over several years, he had generated antibodies that were effective against several snake neurotoxins at once.

“What was exciting about the donor was his once-in-a-lifetime unique immune history,” Glanville said. “Not only did he potentially create these broadly neutralising antibodies, in this case, it could give rise to a broad-spectrum or universal antivenom.”

Scientists created a testing panel of 19 of the world’s most venomous snakes, which belong to the elapid family.

Researchers then isolated target antibodies from Friede’s blood that reacted with neurotoxins found within the snake species tested. 

The resulting antivenom offered an unparalleled breadth of full protection for 13 of the 19 species and partial protection for the remaining six, Glanville said.

The team is now preparing to test its antivenom cocktail in Australia, by providing the drug to dogs brought into veterinary clinics for snake bites. 

The team is also investigating the development of an antivenom targeting the other major snake family, the vipers.

“The final contemplated product would be a single, pan-antivenom cocktail or we potentially would make two: one that is for the elapids and another that is for the viperids because some areas of the world only have one or the other,”  lead author Peter Kwong, professor of medical sciences at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, said.