For decades, Tim Friede (not Doggo above) has willingly allowed deadly snakes to bite and envenomate him — black mambas, cobras, taipans — not out of recklessness, but a determined belief that his experiments could help save lives.
His goal has been to build immunity to multiple types of venom and ultimately contribute to the development of a universal antivenom.
The antivenom industry is currently split between several dozen antivenoms which target specific species.
In the absence of global funding for such a treatment, Friede turned his body into a living laboratory. He has survived dozens of otherwise lethal doses, each time mounting a stronger immune response.
While his methods remain controversial, Friede’s self-immunisation efforts highlight the gaps in current antivenom research. His case underscores the need for greater scientific investment into broad-spectrum treatments that would lessen snakebite mortality.
Read more 2025
