Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In March, China became the first country to approve an invasive brain-computer interface beyond clinical trials. The implant, called NEO, is now available to some patients with limb paralysis due to a spinal cord injury. Ira talks with Wired staff writer Emily Mullin about the significance of this milestone.
Plus, brain implants aren’t the only development: China’s entire biotech industry has skyrocketed in recent years. A decade ago, about 8% of new drug molecules were discovered in China. Now it's over 40%. And more clinical trials are now being conducted there than in the U.S. or Europe. Ira talks with health policy researcher So-Yeon Kang, who’s been following the Chinese pharma industry’s meteoric rise.
Guests:
Emily Mullin is a staff writer at Wired.
Dr. So-Yeon Kang is an Assistant Professor of Health Management and Policy at Georgetown University.
Other episodes you may enjoy:
• Advances In Brain-Computer Interfaces For People With Paralysis (sciencefriday.com/segments/brain-computer-interface-paralysis?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?)
• How China Is Driving Down Electricity Costs With Renewables (sciencefriday.com/segments/china-solar-wind-renewable-energy?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?)
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com (sciencefriday.com/segments/china-biotech-industry?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?) . (sciencefriday.com/segments/parenting-tips-from-the-animal-kingdom/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri)
Subscribe to this podcast. (pod.link/73329284) Follow our show on Instagram (instagram.com/scifri/) , TikTok (tiktok.com/@scifri) , Facebook (facebook.com/scifri) , and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/scifri.bsky.social) @scifri and sign up for our newsletters (sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . Got a science question that’s keeping you up at night? Call us: 877-472-4374
In March, China became the first country to approve an invasive brain-computer interface beyond clinical trials. The implant, called NEO, is now available to some patients with limb paralysis due to a spinal cord injury. Ira talks with Wired staff writer Emily Mullin about the significance of this milestone.
Plus, brain implants aren’t the only development: China’s entire biotech industry has skyrocketed in recent years. A decade ago, about 8% of new drug molecules were discovered in China. Now it's over 40%. And more clinical trials are now being conducted there than in the U.S. or Europe. Ira talks with health policy researcher So-Yeon Kang, who’s been following the Chinese pharma industry’s meteoric rise.
Guests:
Emily Mullin is a staff writer at Wired.
Dr. So-Yeon Kang is an Assistant Professor of Health Management and Policy at Georgetown University.
Other episodes you may enjoy:
• Advances In Brain-Computer Interfaces For People With Paralysis (sciencefriday.com/segments/brain-computer-interface-paralysis?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?)
• How China Is Driving Down Electricity Costs With Renewables (sciencefriday.com/segments/china-solar-wind-renewable-energy?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?)
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com (sciencefriday.com/segments/china-biotech-industry?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?) . (sciencefriday.com/segments/parenting-tips-from-the-animal-kingdom/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri)
Subscribe to this podcast. (pod.link/73329284) Follow our show on Instagram (instagram.com/scifri/) , TikTok (tiktok.com/@scifri) , Facebook (facebook.com/scifri) , and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/scifri.bsky.social) @scifri and sign up for our newsletters (sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . Got a science question that’s keeping you up at night? Call us: 877-472-4374
