All articles tagged with #human trials
A new male contraceptive drug, YCT-529, has successfully passed initial human safety trials, showing no serious side effects and promising reversibility in animal studies, marking a potential breakthrough in non-hormonal, reversible male contraception.
Noland Arbaugh, a quadriplegic man, became the first person to have a Neuralink computer chip implanted in his brain, allowing him to move a computer cursor with his thoughts. During a live stream, he demonstrated how he uses the brain-computer interface to play online chess and control a music stream. The chip contains 1,000 electrodes that gather data about neural activity and movement intention, enabling Arbaugh to control the cursor by simply imagining its movement. While acknowledging that the technology is a work in progress, Arbaugh expressed excitement about the life-changing potential of the chip, despite encountering some challenges.
Elon Musk announced that the first human patient to receive a Neuralink cybernetic implant has made a full recovery and can control a computer mouse with their thoughts. The patient received the implant on Jan. 28 as part of a clinical trial to enable paralyzed individuals to control devices with their minds. Musk hopes the technology will eventually treat conditions like obesity, autism, depression, and schizophrenia. Neuralink, valued at $5 billion, has faced scrutiny over safety protocols and was fined for violating transportation rules.
Elon Musk provided an update on Neuralink's first human trial patient, expressing optimism about the initial results and the potential for the patient to control a phone and computer using the implant. Neuralink aims to enable individuals with spinal cord injuries or ALS to operate devices with their minds through its Telepathy product, with the ultimate goal of enhancing communication for those with limited mobility.
Elon Musk's company, Neuralink, has implanted its first device in a human brain, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to develop computer interfaces for the brain. The device, called Telepathy, aims to enable individuals to control a phone or computer through their thoughts, particularly benefiting those who have lost the use of their limbs. While details about the recipient and the device's functionality were not disclosed, Neuralink had received FDA approval for human trials and is currently recruiting participants with limited hand mobility due to spinal cord injury or neurological disorders.
Neuralink has opened applications for its human trials, with thousands of people expressing interest. The brain chip startup, co-founded by Elon Musk, aims to create a device that allows people to communicate telepathically and control devices using their mind. To be eligible for the trials, individuals must have certain neurological conditions and be over 18. The application process involves filling out screening questions, a consent form, and providing medical records. Selected participants will undergo surgery and be monitored for six years.
Elon Musk's neurotech startup Neuralink has faced criticism after it was revealed that the company has killed approximately 1,500 animals in its experiments to connect brains to computer interfaces. Records from UC Davis' California National Primate Research Center detailed the suffering experienced by monkeys that received brain chip implants, including bleeding in the brain and parts of the brain being left in tatters. Despite calls from a national group of physicians to halt all animal and human experiments, Neuralink is still actively recruiting individuals with quadriplegia or ALS for brain implant trials.
Thousands of people have expressed interest in receiving brain implants from Elon Musk's startup, Neuralink, which aims to operate on 11 people next year and over 22,000 by 2030. The US FDA has given Neuralink approval to launch human trials of its device, described as a "Fitbit in your skull." The company is recruiting people with paralysis in all four limbs due to spinal cord injury or ALS for its first trial. Neuralink's ultimate goal is to create a symbiosis between humans and machines, allowing people to send messages or play games using only their thoughts.
Human trials of a breast cancer vaccine in the United States are showing promising results, potentially revolutionizing breast cancer treatment, particularly for black women who are more prone to developing the aggressive form of the disease. The vaccine aims to prevent the recurrence of triple-negative breast cancer, and early participants have reported positive outcomes. However, the vaccine is still in the experimental stage and awaits approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. Meanwhile, researchers at The University of the West Indies are conducting research into black cell lines to aid global cancer research for black people.
A gel made from the venom of the Brazilian wandering spider, known for its toxicity and ability to cause prolonged erections, is being tested as a potential treatment for erectile dysfunction. The gel has passed the first stage of human trials and shows promise in finding a solution for this condition.
A new vaccine targeting fentanyl and heroin overdoses is set to enter human trials in early 2024. The vaccine, administered through multiple injections, aims to teach the immune system how to prevent opioids from cutting off oxygen to the brain during an overdose. The fentanyl vaccine, different from the antidote Narcan, would neutralize the chemical with antibodies while it is still in the bloodstream. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is responsible for a significant number of drug overdose deaths in the US. The vaccine's effectiveness and safety will be evaluated through gradual escalations of vaccine dosage in Phase 1 trials, followed by Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials.
Harvard researchers claim to have discovered a cocktail of drugs that can reverse ageing in human and mice skin cells by several years. The chemical cocktails, containing five to seven agents, have shown promising results in studies on optic nerve, brain tissue, kidney, and muscle, with improved vision and extended lifespan in mice and monkeys. Human trials are expected to begin next year, although some scientists have cautioned that the study is mostly hype and preliminary.
A company named Vertex has successfully created beta cells from stem cells, offering hope for a potential cure for type 1 diabetes. In human trials, half-doses of these stem cell-derived beta cells were given to two patients experiencing severe hypoglycemia. One patient became insulin independent, while the other showed some activity but not enough for independence. Four more patients received a full dose, with one achieving insulin independence after a year. All six patients showed positive responses to the treatment, producing insulin and exhibiting positive C-peptide levels. The trial will now expand to include more patients, although the small sample size and variation in response highlight the need for further research. Side effects were related to immunosuppression. Overall, this development process shows promise for future therapies in treating type 1 diabetes.
Elon Musk's brain-chip start-up Neuralink plans to begin its first human trial this year by implanting a tetraplegic or paraplegic patient. The company received FDA clearance for its first-in-human clinical trial last month, but it may take several years to secure commercial use clearance. Neuralink has faced federal scrutiny over its handling of animal experiments, potential financial conflicts on the board overseeing animal testing, and the illegal transportation of dangerous pathogens on chips removed from monkey brains. Despite these challenges, the company's valuation has risen to around $5 billion.
Elon Musk announced at the VivaTech event in Paris that his brain-chip startup Neuralink plans to implant a tetraplegic or paraplegic patient during a webcast monitored by Reuters. Neuralink received FDA clearance for its first-in-human clinical trial last month, a critical milestone for the startup as it faces U.S. probes over its handling of animal experiments. If Neuralink can prove its device is safe in humans, it would still take several years, potentially more than a decade, for the start-up to secure commercial use clearance.