DAILY DOSE: Controversial Alzheimer's drug dropped; Social media CEOs join Congressional circus.

scientificinquirer

February 1

ALZHEIMER'S DRUG BITES THE DUST.

Biogen, a biotech company, has ceased all work on Aduhelm, its Alzheimer's drug, due to its failure in the market following a controversial approval in 2021. The rights to the drug are reverting to Neurimmune. Biogen also discontinued the Phase 4 ENVISION trial, mandated by the FDA, as previous trials didn't conclusively prove Aduhelm's effectiveness in slowing Alzheimer's. The company took a $60 million hit in Q4 2023. Aduhelm aimed to reduce beta-amyloid protein clumps in Alzheimer's patients' brains. However, it initially failed two Phase 3 trials. Despite this, Biogen pursued FDA approval. The FDA's controversial approval in 2021, despite advisory committee disapproval and internal inconsistencies, led to resignations and criticism. A Congressional investigation later found irregularities in the FDA's review process. Biogen, once predicting huge revenues from Aduhelm, faced backlash over its $56,000 annual price, limited insurance coverage, and poor sales, leading to a strategic shift towards another Alzheimer's drug, Leqembi. (Ars Technica)

SOCIAL MEDIA PLAGUE HEARING.

During a US Senate hearing, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized to families affected by social media. Zuckerberg, along with leaders from TikTok, Snap, X (formerly Twitter), and Discord, faced extensive questioning about child safety online. This rare opportunity for senators to interrogate tech bosses followed subpoenas to some initially reluctant CEOs. The focus was on online child exploitation and broader safety issues. Zuckerberg, who has testified multiple times before Congress, faced pointed questions, particularly from Senator Ted Cruz regarding Instagram's content warnings. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, a Singaporean, denied sharing US data with the Chinese government or having links to the Chinese Communist Party. Debate centered on tech companies' stance towards proposed online safety legislation. Discord's Jason Citron showed reservations about several bills. Meta announced new safety measures for minors on Instagram and Messenger. The hearing highlighted the urgency of regulatory action, underscored by a parents' rally outside, emphasizing the real-world impact of social media on families. (BBC)

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EXPECT THINGS TO GET WORSE.

In 2024, social media is evolving into smaller, more specialized platforms, diverging from large, diverse spaces like Twitter and Instagram. This change is significant as the US approaches a contentious election, where these platforms will heavily influence public opinion. The movement towards smaller networks is exemplified by Donald Trump's switch to Truth Social after being banned from Twitter, highlighting a trend towards echo chambers. Users are increasingly finding themselves in 'small-room' networks, which can intensify insular and extreme viewpoints. Platforms like Twitter, under Elon Musk's leadership, and Reddit, facing user migration to more controlled spaces like Discord, illustrate this shift. While smaller networks offer supportive communities for specific interests or challenges, they also risk normalizing extreme ideologies, away from public scrutiny. These fragmented networks are important for connecting like-minded individuals, building social capital in ways not possible in the physical world. However, they contribute to further fracturing the public sphere, potentially making the 2024 election more polarized than ever in the social media era. (Wired)

HACKING TRACED BACK TO JORDAN.

Access Now, a digital rights group, reported that Israeli-made Pegasus spyware was used to hack the cellphones of at least 30 individuals in Jordan, including journalists, lawyers, and activists, between early 2020 and November 2021. The Jordanian government has not commented on the report, and it's unclear who exactly was behind the hacking. Among the targets was Human Rights Watch's deputy director for the region, Adam Coogle. In 2022, the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab identified two operators of Pegasus in Jordan, possibly linked to the Jordanian government. Access Now believes the actual number of victims in Jordan is higher than reported. NSO Group, which created Pegasus, claims to sell only to vetted agencies for combating terrorism and serious crime. However, the spyware has been used in various countries for politically motivated surveillance. The U.S. government blacklisted NSO Group in 2021, and Apple Inc. has sued the company. Victims in Jordan include Human Rights Watch researchers and a Jordanian human rights lawyer. Half of the targets were journalists or media workers. The report emphasizes the widespread and potentially abusive use of Pegasus spyware in Jordan, raising concerns about privacy and human rights violations. (AP)

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MOVE OVER GOOGLE.

Perplexity, a new AI-powered search engine developed by former OpenAI and Meta AI researchers, is gaining attention in the tech world. Funded by investors like Jeff Bezos, the company raised $74 million recently, valuing it at $520 million. This growth challenges Google's dominance, as users seek alternatives due to issues like spammy search results. Perplexity offers a distinct experience, providing AI-generated summaries instead of links, drawing from various sources. After extensive testing, the author finds Perplexity effective for complex searches, but still resorts to Google for specific tasks. Perplexity's interface resembles Google's, but its "Copilot" feature and tailored source selection enhance user experience. Running on OpenAI's GPT-3.5 and other AI models, Perplexity also acknowledges its limitations, a rare trait in AI applications. However, the rise of AI search engines raises concerns about their impact on digital media, with potential to decrease website traffic and thus, ad revenue. Perplexity, with its concise summaries, might reduce the need for visiting actual websites. Despite its benefits, the author remains apprehensive about the broader implications of such AI-driven platforms on online content creators and publishers. (New York Times)

FAST FASHION, SLOW DEATH.

In Cambodia's brick kilns, workers like Chantrea endure extreme heat, often compared to a "burning prison," for minimal wages. A study recorded core temperatures of 30 workers, revealing they all suffered from heat stress, with some reaching dangerous levels that could lead to heat stroke. The kilns, fueled partly by fast fashion scraps, pose health risks with their toxic smoke and high temperatures. Workers, many former farmers driven to debt by failed crops, are bonded to kilns through loans offered by owners, trapping entire families in this harsh environment. Despite efforts to prevent child labor, children are often seen assisting their parents. The low wages make it impossible for workers to repay their debts, further entrenching them in this cycle. This situation highlights the harsh realities of climate change and labor exploitation, exacerbating inequalities. As Phnom Penh's construction boom continues, fueled by these kilns, the plight of workers like Chantrea remains largely unseen and unaddressed. (BBC)

CHALLENGING CANCER DOGMA.

In 2017, cancer neuroscientist Humsa Venkatesh discovered intense electrical activity in glioma cells, a type of brain tumor, suggesting cancer cells communicate electrically. This finding, part of a 2019 Nature paper, indicates gliomas can integrate into neural circuits, receiving stimulation from neurons that aid their growth. This groundbreaking research is pivotal in the emerging field of cancer neuroscience, exploring how cancers interact with the nervous system. Historically, cancer's relationship with nerves was misunderstood, seen merely as a pathway for cancer spread. However, research now shows nerves actively connect with cancer cells, influencing tumor growth. For instance, prostate cancer cells can stimulate nerve growth, and cancers can even transform nerve cell types. Understanding this interaction opens potential treatment avenues using existing drugs targeting the nervous system, like beta blockers and anti-seizure medications. This research challenges traditional views of cancer and offers new insights into its management, emphasizing the intricate relationship between cancer and the nervous system. (Nature)

HUMANS AND NEANDERTALS CO-EXISTED.

Over 45,000 years ago, early humans in northern Europe left behind stone tools and campfire remains. A discovery in Ranis, Germany, has now illuminated this period. Archaeologists found human bones dating back at least 45,000 years, identified as Homo sapiens, challenging the belief that Neanderthals were Europe's sole inhabitants then. These findings, combined with others in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, suggest a complex early human migration into Europe. Small groups of modern humans moved from Africa around 48,000 years ago, coexisting and sometimes interbreeding with Neanderthals. The Ranis excavation revealed how early humans adapted to colder climates earlier than previously thought. This challenges assumptions about early human migrations and raises questions about the use of certain stone tools, previously attributed to Neanderthals, and whether these were exclusive to Homo sapiens or a collaborative effort with Neanderthals. This research offers new insights into the complex interactions between early modern humans and Neanderthals. (Science)

Thanks for reading. Let's be careful out there.

WORDS: The Biology Guy.