The Week of

China-based biotech firm XellSmart received Fast Track designation from the FDA for XS411, an experimental stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease.

The treatment uses lab-grown cells that are designed to replace the dopamine-producing brain cells that die as the disease progresses. Unlike drugs that mainly help manage symptoms, XS411 aims to restore some of the lost brain function. Check it out: https://substack.com/home/post/p-209933286

Canada's Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) recommended that AbbVie’s Ubrelvy be covered by public drug plans for adults with migraines. Ubrelvy is a prescription medication that treats migraine attacks after they begin by blocking a protein called CGRP, which plays a key role in triggering migraine pain.

The recommendation is based on clinical trials showing the drug can relieve migraine pain, and it represents an important step toward making the medication more affordable for Canadians. While the recommendation doesn't automatically guarantee coverage, it gives Canada's provinces and territories a strong basis for deciding whether to add Ubrelvy to their public drug plans. Check it out: https://jlsfund.substack.com/p/abbvie-just-won-another-small-victory

Ceruvia Lifesciences announced that it successfully raised $8 million to advance BOL-148, an experimental drug derived from LSD that has been modified so it doesn't produce hallucinations.

The drug is being developed to treat cluster headaches, often called "suicide headaches" because they are among the most painful neurological conditions. The funding will pay for a combined Phase 1/2 clinical trial that will first test the drug's safety in healthy volunteers before evaluating whether it can reduce the frequency and severity of cluster headaches in patients. If the results are positive, they could pave the way for larger Phase 3 studies needed for regulatory approval. Here’s more: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ceruvia-raises-8-million-to-complete-integrated-phase-12-trial-of-proprietary-non-hallucinogenic-lsd-analog-for-cluster-headache-302838100.html?tc=eml_cleartime

Did you know that scientists have taken a major step toward decoding the music you hear inside your own head?

In a new study, researchers were able to reconstruct the melodies that people were merely imagining by analyzing their brain activity. While the technology is still in its early stages and requires implanted brain electrodes, it could one day help people who have lost the ability to speak, communicate by translating their thoughts, including imagined speech or even music, into sound. Check it out: https://neurosciencenews.com/internal-music-decoded-neuroscience-31169/