Man Bitten by 200 Snakes Helps Scientists Create a Super Antivenom

Scientists seem to have developed the most broadly effective snake antivenom seen yet—an antivenom partly derived from the antibodies of a man bitten by snakes hundreds of times. This research could eventually lead to a truly universal antivenom, the scientists say. Snake antivenom is currently produced by harvesting the antibodies of animals (usually horses) that generate a strong immune response to toxins. Over the course of his life, he’s been bitten by venomous snakes some 200 times and he’s further injected himself with more than 700 doses of venom. These snakes all belong to the elapid family of venomous snakes, and are members of the World Health Organization’s Category 1 and 2 snakes (the most medically relevant venomous snakes in the world).