Neuralink competitor Synchron to ramp up brain implant production with equity stake in manufacturer

Key Points

• Neurotech startup Synchron is increasing production of its brain-computer interface (BCI), the Synchron Switch, in anticipation of commercial demand.
• Synchron has acquired a minority stake in the German manufacturer Acquandas, gaining exclusive access to the manufacturer’s layering technology for medical devices.
• The Synchron Switch, a stent-like BCI, is inserted through blood vessels, allowing individuals with limited physical mobility to control technology using their minds. Initial studies involved implanting the device in six U.S. and four Australian patients, with additional trials required for FDA approval.
• Synchron aims to address the unmet need for paralysis patients and is preparing for high-volume production. The company plans to launch a patient registry in mid-February to gauge interest and shape considerations for clinical sites.
• Synchron secured attention from influential investors, including Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, with a $75 million financing round in 2022. Competitor Elon Musk, owner of Neuralink, showed interest in Synchron during a meeting in July 2022.
• Unlike Neuralink’s direct brain implant through open surgery, Synchron’s Stentrode relies on a less-invasive approach, enhancing accessibility. The Stentrode is fitted with sensors and delivered to the large vein next to the motor cortex. Despite potentially weaker neural signals, Synchron believes the minimally invasive procedure offers advantages in accessibility over Neuralink’s approach.