#antivenom

By using antibodies from a human donor with a self-induced hyper-immunity to snake venom, scientists have developed the most broadly effective antivenom to date, which is protective against the likes of the black mamba, king cobra, and tiger snakes in mouse trials. Described in the journal Cell, the antivenom combines protective antibodies and a small molecule inhibitor and opens a path toward a universal antiserum.

You know Maomao—our freckle-faced, poison-obsessed apothecary who tests toxins on herself like it’s teatime? Turns out, her brand of reckless devotion exists in real life. Meet Tim Friede, a Wisconsin man who let venomous snakes bite him 202 times to help create a universal antivenom

Sound familiar? Let’s geek out over the parallels.

The Self-Experimenters: Maomao vs. Tim Friede

Maomao: Bandaged arm covered in self-inflicted scars from testing poisons and remedies. She’s "fascinated by venomous animals more so than commonplace pets" (snakes, spiders, centipedes) and built a mithridatic resistance through repeated exposure

Tim Friede: Injected himself 654 times with snake venom + endured 202 bites from black mambas, cobras, and taipans. Like Maomao, he survived near-fatal reactions (including a 4-day coma) to develop ultra-rare antibodies

“If I should die, I’d want to die of poison.” — Maomao’s iconic line 1. “Was it stupid? Yes. But I’m in it for the science.” — Tim Friede, post-coma

The “Universal Antidote” Dream

Maomao’s Goal: Cure poisonings in the Imperial Court using her knowledge of toxins (e.g., identifying lead poisoning in makeup, creating antidotes for consorts)

Tim’s Legacy: His antibodies + a drug (varespladib) created an antivenom that fully protected mice from 13 snake species (cobras, mambas, etc.) and partially protected 6 more—the broadest coverage ever achieved

Pragmatism vs. Recklessness

Both justify their risks with cold logic:

Maomao Views poison-tests as necessary for survival in the Red Light District. She avoids romanticizing pain: "Experiments are practical; death is inefficient"

Tim: "I wanted to push the limits [...] for people 8,000 miles away dying from snakebite" 4. His work targets 140,000 annual snakebite deaths

Maomao’s experiments horrify the Inner Court. Similarly, scientists emphatically warn against Friede’s methods:

"No one should ever try this. Snake venom is dangerous." —Dr. Jacob Glanville

Both believe knowledge requires sacrifice. Maomao tests buckwheat allergies despite failures; Tim kept injecting venom after losing finger tissue and was hospitalized multiple times

So next time you rewatch Apothecary Diaries, remember: Maomao isn’t just a quirky toxophilite...

She’s the anime embodiment of humanity’s grim, glorious pursuit of resilience.

Imagine Maomao meeting Friede:

Anne-ti Venom

Commission for @inkmaster892

now all three are venomized