Elon Musk's Neuralink Receives Approval to Start Brain Implant Human Trial for Paralysis Patients

Those with paralysis due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may qualify for the study.

By Reuters | Updated: 20 September 2023 10:20 IST

Elon Musk's Neuralink Receives Approval to Start Brain Implant Human Trial for Paralysis Patients

Photo Credit: Reuters

In May, Neuralink said it had received clearance from the FDA

Highlights

The study will use a robot to surgically place a brain-computer interface
Neuralink had ealier received approval to impant devices in 10 patients
It will likely take more than a decade for it to gain commercial use

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's brain-chip startup Neuralink said on Tuesday it has received approval from an independent review board to begin recruitment for the first human trial of its brain implant for paralysis patients.

Those with paralysis due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may qualify for the study, it said but did not reveal how many participants would be enrolled in the trial, which will take about six years to complete.

The study will use a robot to surgically place a brain-computer interface (BCI) implant in a region of the brain that controls the intention to move, Neuralink said, adding that its initial goal is to enable people to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone.

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The company, which had earlier hoped to receive approval to implant its device in 10 patients, was negotiating a lower number of patients with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after the agency raised safety concerns, according to current and former employees. It is not known how many patients the FDA ultimately approved.

Musk has grand ambitions for Neuralink, saying it would facilitate speedy surgical insertions of its chip devices to treat conditions like obesity, autism, depression and schizophrenia.

In May, the company said it had received clearance from the FDA for its first-in-human clinical trial when it was already under federal scrutiny for its handling of animal testing.

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Even if the BCI device proves to be safe for human use, it would still potentially take more than a decade for the startup to secure commercial use clearance for it, according to experts.

© Thomson Reuters 2023

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