China's booming biotech, from a brain implant to drug discovery
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hi, I'm Ira Flato, and you're listening to Science Friday.
How did China become the first country to approve an invasive brain-computer interface?
In March, China became the first country to approve an invasive brain-computer interface beyond clinical trials. The implant, called NEO, is made by the Chinese company Neurical Technology. It's now available to some patients with limb paralysis due to a spinal cord injury. So how soon will it be available worldwide? And is this the start of a major new industry? Joining me now to help answer some of the unknowns is Emily Mullen, a staff writer at Wired, who's been covering the brain-computer interface industry in China and the U.S. Welcome to Science Friday.
Thanks for having me.
What is the NEO implant and how does it work to restore hand function?
So Emily, just how significant is this milestone for brain-computer interface technology?
I would say this is a pretty significant milestone, you know, not only for China, but also for the worldwide brain-computer interface field. It shows that China has caught up with the U.S. in terms of BCI technology, and it also shows that these devices are commercially viable.
Huh. Tell me a bit about the implant. Can you describe it for us, how it works?
Yeah, so as you said, this device is called the Neo, and it doesn't go into the brain directly. It actually rests on top of the brain's protective membrane called the dura mater, and it pairs with a soft robotic glove to enable a gripping action for people who have lost the use of their hand. The system was tested on about three dozen people in trials, and China has now started incorporating it into the country's health systems. So we could see this rolled out soon to patients.
How similar is this to other BCIs that other companies are currently developing?
Yeah, so one of the companies you might have heard of in the U.S. is Elon Musk's Neuralink. And Neuralink is developing this coin-sized implant with thin electrode threads that actually reach into the brain tissue. So that's a little bit different than this device that China has just approved. Now, there are other companies...
How does the NEO compare with other BCI designs like Neuralink and Synchron?
such as Synchron, for instance. They're based in New York. They are developing a little stent-like tube that actually fits into a blood vessel and is pushed up through the blood vessels so that it rests actually against the brain. So there are all sorts of designs that are being developed and being investigated for different uses.
Yes, that's interesting. Could we see a bunch of more similar devices approved in China soon?
There are several companies in China that are now developing brain-computer interfaces. So I think we are probably likely to see, over the next couple of years, more approvals like this. The government officially designated brain-computer interfaces as a strategic industry. And the country's latest five-year plan lists BCI, or brain-computer interface, as one of six key industries that are important to China's future tech competitiveness. So this is China saying, you know, we are serious about the field. We are investing in it heavily. We're really staking it out as an area we feel like we can be competitive in.
Will China approve more brain-computer interfaces soon and why is the government supporting BCIs?
And this is an important statement. China's saying, we have arrived?
Yeah, absolutely. Here in the U.S., there are a handful of companies that are... testing these devices and clinical trials. But that process here in the US is a little bit slower. It seems like there are some talks between the FDA and device companies that are still ongoing, but certainly Neuralink and then Synchron, another company developing a brain-computer interface. Those companies are really poised to go into these bigger trials. I think... You know, this will be an interesting test case for not just the U.S., but also globally in terms of how viable this technology is commercially, but also from the patient perspective. You know, how useful are these devices in everyday life?
It's interesting you say how useful are these devices in everyday life. What kinds of everyday life applications are we talking about here?
Yeah, so most companies are focusing on applications for individuals with paralysis who have lost the use of their limbs.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:02–0:06
2
How did China become the first country to approve an invasive brain-computer interface?
0:06–0:45
3
What is the NEO implant and how does it work to restore hand function?
0:45–2:25
4
How does the NEO compare with other BCI designs like Neuralink and Synchron?
2:25–3:44
5
Will China approve more brain-computer interfaces soon and why is the government supporting BCIs?
3:44–6:30
6
What real-world challenges remain for BCIs to be useful for patients at home?
6:30–7:10
7
How has China’s biotech sector grown and what metrics show its rise?
7:10–8:15
8
Why are Chinese companies excelling at early-stage drug discovery and clinical trials?
8:15–18:15
Speakers
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