AI antivenom achieved an astounding 100 percent success rate in neutralizing lethal cobra venom.
David Baker, the 2024 Nobel Laureate in chemistry, led the study and development of this AI-designed antitoxin.
As a result, the concoction could make curing snakebites easier and cheaper, potentially saving more lives worldwide.
How did they create AI antivenom?
Science.org reports Baker and his team used small proteins called “binders” designed by their AI program RFdiffusion.
READ: AI tool predicts patient medical events
The program creates unique protein structures to fit specific criteria, especially for binding to a certain venom toxin.
The first batch of binders neutralized three-finger toxins. These are some of the most lethal types of snake venom as they evade the immune system.
Even better, the AI antivenom worked in mice better than antibodies. It remained effective, regardless if the scientists mixed it with the toxins or injected them into a mouse like a snakebite.
“It all just worked right away,” said Susana Vázquez Torres, Baker’s former Ph.D student who’s now a postdoctoral researcher.
The AI-developed antivenom is also easier to store and cheaper to make than traditional ones.
READ: What to do when bitten by a snake
The amount of conventional antivenom required for a snakebite can cost thousands of dollars and take months to produce.
“You have to continually milk the snakes and continually harvest the animals’ blood to get just a tiny amount of effective antibodies,” Torres explained.
Moreover, conventional antivenom must stay cold, which can be difficult in warm, remote areas where snakebites are common.
The researchers admit neutralizing only one component of a venom is not enough to prevent injuries or save lives.
Nevertheless, they’re a significant step towards saving people from lethal snakebites.
That is why Baker, Torres, and the rest of the team continue to improve the AI antivenom.