#23 - Designing Antivenom With Diffusion Models

Code & Cure

What if the future of antivenom didn’t come from horse serum, but from AI models that shape lifesaving proteins out of noise?

In this episode, we explore how diffusion models, powerful tools from the world of AI, are transforming the design of antivenoms, particularly for some of nature’s deadliest neurotoxins. Traditional antivenom is costly, unstable, and can provoke serious immune reactions. But for toxins like those from cobras, mambas, and sea snakes that are potent yet hard to target with immune responses, new strategies are needed.

We begin with the problem: clinicians face high-risk toxins and a shortage of effective, safe treatments. Then we dive into the breakthrough: using diffusion models like RosettaFold Diffusion to generate novel protein binders that precisely fit the structure of snake toxins. These models start with random shapes and iteratively refine them into stable, functional proteins, tailored to neutralize the threat at the molecular level.

You’ll hear how these designs were screened for strength, specificity, and stability, and how the top candidates performed in mouse studies—protecting respiration and holding promise for more scalable, less reactive therapies. Beyond venom, this approach hints at a broader shift in drug development: one where AI accelerates discovery by reasoning in shape, not just sequence.

We wrap by looking ahead at the challenges in manufacturing, regulation, and real-world validation, and why this shape-first design mindset could unlock new frontiers in precision medicine.

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Reference:

Novel Proteins to Neutralize Venom Toxins
José María Gutiérrez
New England Journal of Medicine (2025)

Credits:

Theme music: Nowhere Land, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Capitole

1. Venom Meets Modern AI (00:00:00)

2. Hosts And Wilderness Medicine Context (00:00:19)

3. How Traditional Antivenom Is Made (00:01:31)

4. Limits: Cost, Safety, Immunogenicity (00:03:58)

5. Three-Finger Toxins And Paralysis (00:06:05)

6. Why Shape Beats Sequence (00:08:15)

7. From AlphaFold To RF Diffusion (00:10:02)

8. How Diffusion Models Design Proteins (00:12:32)

9. Constraining Shape For Binding (00:15:20)

10. Mouse Results And Stability (00:17:14)

11. Broader Promise And Next Steps (00:19:12)

12. Closing And Sign-Off (00:20:40)