Tim Friede has deliberately been bitten by snakes hundreds of times over nearly two decades to build a tolerance to venom.
Fascinated by reptiles and venomous creatures, Friede began injecting small doses of snake venom to increase his tolerance and later allowed himself to be bitten by various snakes, including black mambas and taipans, reports AP.
Though this method is dangerous and not recommended by experts, it mirrors how the immune system develops antibodies to counter toxins.
Friede's aim was not only personal curiosity but to contribute to science. After enduring countless bites and venom injections, he reached out to scientists, hoping his unique tolerance could help advance treatments for snakebites, which kill around 1,10,000 people annually.
Snake venom antivenoms are often expensive, species-specific, and may cause allergic reactions.
Peter Kwong of Columbia University took interest in Friede's case, recognizing the potential of his antibodies. In a study published in Cell, Kwong and colleagues identified two antibodies in Friede's blood that neutralize venom from several snake species, including mambas and cobras.
This research is still in its early stages, with tests conducted on mice, and human trials are years away. However, the treatment is not effective against vipers, such as rattlesnakes.
Despite the promise of this research, experts caution that more work is needed. Friede’s journey has been perilous, including severe bites that led to hospitalization and the loss of part of a finger. Now working with Centivax, the company funding the study, Friede is hopeful that his self-experimentation will lead to life-saving treatments for snakebites. However, he warns others: “Don’t do it.”
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
