Universal Snakebite Antidote Within Reach, Thanks to Unique Collaboration
New York, NY – A potential breakthrough in snakebite treatment is underway, fueled by an extraordinary partnership between scientists adn a Wisconsin reptile enthusiast who intentionally exposed himself to the venom of dozens of snakes over two decades. Researchers at Columbia University, biotechnology startup Centivax, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases are developing a broadly effective antivenom, potentially the world’s first universal therapy for snakebites.
The unlikely catalyst for this research is Tim Friede,who,hoping to build immunity,began a self-experiment involving gradually increasing doses of venom injections and allowing bites from rattlesnakes,cobras,mambas,coral snakes,and taipans. While physicians have deemed his methods reckless, the resulting antibodies in his blood have proven invaluable.
Published recently in the journal Cell, research led by Columbia biologist Peter Kwong ’95GSAS details a therapeutic cocktail created using antibodies extracted from Friede’s blood combined with an anti-inflammatory agent. Testing on mice demonstrated the cocktail’s ability to neutralize the venoms of manny of the world’s most risky snakes. The team, now including Columbia scientists Henry Colecraft and Lawrence Shapiro ’96GSAS, is currently preparing to test the therapy on animals, beginning with dogs and other pets.
“I think in the next ten or fifteen years, we’ll have somthing effective against each of those toxin classes,” says Kwong, highlighting the potential for a truly universal treatment. The urgency of this research is underscored by the fact that snakebites kill or permanently disable over half a million people annually, and current antivenoms are species-specific.Researchers believe a universal therapy is achievable as only about a dozen toxin types are present across all 600 venomous snake species.
The team continues to analyze additional antibodies from Friede’s blood, aiming to develop an even more potent and complete antivenom. This work originally appeared in the Fall 2025 issue of Columbia Magazine under the title “Snakebite solution.”
