Introduction to a Unique Experiment
A Man’s Quest to Build Tolerance
Tim Friede has been bitten by snakes hundreds of times — often on purpose. Now scientists are studying his blood in hopes of creating a better treatment for snake bites.
Friede has long had a fascination with reptiles and other venomous creatures. He used to milk scorpions’ and spiders’ venom as a hobby and kept dozens of snakes at his Wisconsin home.
Hoping to protect himself from snake bites — and out of what he calls “simple curiosity” — he began injecting himself with small doses of snake venom and then slowly increased the amount to try to build up tolerance. He would then let snakes bite him.
“At first, it was very scary,” Friede said. “But the more you do it, the better you get at it, the more calm you become with it.”
The Science Behind Building Tolerance
How the Body Reacts to Venom
While no doctor or emergency medical technician — or anyone, really — would ever suggest this is a remotely good idea, experts say his method tracks how the body works. When the immune system is exposed to the toxins in snake venom, it develops antibodies that can neutralize the poison. If it’s a small amount of venom the body can react before it’s overwhelmed. And if it’s venom the body has seen before, it can react more quickly and handle larger exposures.
Friede has withstood snakebites and injections for nearly two decades and still has a refrigerator full of venom. In videos posted to his YouTube channel, he shows off swollen fang marks on his arms from black mamba, taipan and water cobra bites.
“I wanted to push the limits as close to death as possible to where I’m just basically teetering right there and then back off of it,” he said.
The Need for a New Treatment
Current Challenges with Antivenom
Around 110,000 people die from snakebite every year, according to the World Health Organization. And making antivenom is expensive and difficult. It is often created by injecting large mammals like horses with venom and collecting the antibodies they produce. These antivenoms are usually only effective against specific snake species, and can sometimes produce bad reactions due to their nonhuman origins.
This photo provided by Centivax shows Mark Bellin and Hannah Hirou who are involved in efforts to produce an antivenom to counteract the bites of various snakes, at a lab in South San Francisco, Calif., in 2025. (Centivax via AP)
A Breakthrough in Research
Studying Friede’s Blood
When Columbia University’s Peter Kwong heard of Friede, he said, “Oh, wow, this is very unusual. We had a very special individual with amazing antibodies that he created over 18 years.”
In a study published Friday in the journal Cell, Kwong and collaborators shared what they were able to do with Friede’s unique blood: They identified two antibodies that neutralize venom from many different snake species with the aim of someday producing a treatment that could offer broad protection.
In this photo provided by Centivax, Tim Friede, center, stands in a lab in South San Francisco, Calif., in 2023, that is using his blood to prepare an antivenom to the bites of various snakes. (Centivax via AP)
Conclusion
The journey of Tim Friede, though unconventional and not recommended, has led to a significant breakthrough in the quest for a more effective snakebite treatment. His dedication, despite the risks and setbacks, has the potential to save thousands of lives. It’s a stark reminder of how individual actions, driven by curiosity and a desire to help, can contribute to major scientific advancements.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: How many times has Tim Friede been bitten by snakes?
- A: Tim Friede has been bitten by snakes hundreds of times.
- Q: Why did Tim Friede start injecting himself with snake venom?
- A: Friede started this practice to build up tolerance against snake bites, driven by his fascination with reptiles and venomous creatures, as well as a desire to protect himself.
- Q: How does the body react to snake venom?
- A: When exposed to snake venom, the body develops antibodies that can neutralize the poison, allowing for a quicker and more effective response to subsequent exposures.
- Q: What is the current challenge with antivenom?
- A: Current antivenoms are expensive, difficult to produce, often species-specific, and can cause adverse reactions due to their nonhuman origins.
- Q: What is the potential outcome of the research on Tim Friede’s blood?
- A: The research aims to produce a treatment that could offer broad protection against snake bites from many different species, potentially saving thousands of lives annually.
