Controversial Start-Up Bexorg Uses Human Brains for Drug Testing
The real Frankenstein's lab: Controversial start-up is using disembodied human BRAINS for drug testing
Image: Mail Online
Bexorg, a Connecticut-based start-up, is conducting controversial experiments by keeping disembodied human brains alive to test new drugs for neurodegenerative diseases. Utilizing a machine called BrainEx, the company claims this method could accelerate drug development while addressing ethical concerns surrounding animal testing.
- 01Bexorg has tested over 700 human brains in five years, using them to trial experimental drugs for diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
- 02The BrainEx machine pumps synthetic blood to keep the brains alive temporarily, allowing real-time monitoring of drug reactions.
- 03Bexorg's approach is positioned as a more ethical alternative to traditional animal testing, which may not accurately predict human responses.
- 04The pharmaceutical company Biohaven is preparing clinical trials based on data from Bexorg, including a drug that showed promise in disembodied brains but failed in mice.
- 05Concerns about potential consciousness in the reanimated brains have been raised, but Bexorg maintains that the brains are kept in a state devoid of coordinated neural activity.
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Bexorg, a start-up based in Connecticut, is pushing the boundaries of neuroscience by conducting experiments on disembodied human brains to test experimental drugs for neurodegenerative diseases. Using a machine known as BrainEx, the company keeps these brains alive for up to 24 hours, allowing researchers to observe their reactions to various medications in real time. This method, which has involved over 700 brains in five years, is seen as a more ethical alternative to animal testing, which has faced criticism for its cruelty and questionable accuracy. The start-up claims that using human brains, which have decades of life experience, provides more relevant data for drug development. However, ethical concerns persist regarding the potential for these brains to regain consciousness. Bexorg asserts that the brains are kept in a state that prevents any coordinated neural activity, ensuring they do not experience thoughts or sensations. Despite the controversy, the company is already collaborating with pharmaceutical firms like Biohaven, which is set to launch clinical trials based on findings from Bexorg's research.
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Bexorg's research could revolutionize drug testing and development, potentially leading to faster treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
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