Designed by Intelligence: AI-Engineered Proteins Revolutionize Antivenom Science

Researchers led by Timothy Patrick Jenkins, PhD, from the Technical University of Denmark, and David Baker, PhD, 2024 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, from the University of Washington School of Medicine, have used deep learning tools to create proteins that can neutralize deadly toxins found in snake venom. Their groundbreaking study was published in Nature on January 15, 2025. 

The study focuses on three-finger toxins (3FTx), a class of snake proteins that are extremely toxic and can cause life-threatening neurotoxicity and significant tissue damage. Conventional antivenoms, which are made from the plasma of inoculated animals, are expensive and may have adverse effects. They also frequently have poor effectiveness against 3FTx. 

Baker and his team’s AI-designed proteins have demonstrated the capacity to attach to and deactivate different 3FTx subfamilies in vitro. These proteins offered considerable defence against deadly neurotoxin assaults in mouse models, with survival rates varying from 80% to 100% based on the particular circumstances. Another benefit is that these proteins can be made with microbial systems, which could make them more affordable and available, particularly in areas with little resources where snakebites are common. 

The researchers stress that although these results are encouraging, traditional antivenoms will probably continue to be the mainstay of snakebite treatment in the near future. The AI-created antitoxins, however, might be used as additives to boost the efficacy of current therapies. This kind of protein design has the potential to create new medicines for a number of ailments, including certain viral diseases, in addition to snakebite therapy. 

This discovery offers hope for more efficient and widely available therapies for snakebite victims globally and represents a major breakthrough in the use of artificial intelligence to address longstanding medical difficulties.