🧠 People Can Now Control Tech Using their Minds

Welcome to the Dose.

The science newsletter that’s as exhilarating as the Olympic Men’s 100 meter.

Tired of scrolling through articles to find the juicy stuff? Yep, us too.

The Dose brings you the latest science news, insights and stock tips in a quick, engaging format—no sweat, no fluff.

Here’s what we’ve got for you this week:

💉 Miracle Weight loss Drug Ozempic: Everything you Need to Know in 3 Minutes

🌊 Tsunami Selloff: What Healthcare Investors Need to Know

🧠 This Brain Implant Allows Control of Tech using only the Mind

CASE STUDY
💉 Miracle Weight-loss Drug Ozempic: Everything you Need to Know in 3 Minutes

Termed a miracle weight loss cure by TikTokers, celebrities and doctors, the world is going crazy for Ozempic right now.

So, what is Ozempic and does it really live up to the hype?

What is Ozempic? 

Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist originally approved for managing type 2 diabetes. 

It works by mimicking (i.e. imitating) Glucagon-like Peptide 1, which increases insulin secretion, decreases glucagon production and slows emptying from the gut. This in turn is how it reverses the effects of diabetes.

More recently though, the drug is being used for another benefit: satiety (i.e., the feeling of being full).

Many patients report significant weight loss while on Ozempic, which has led to its off-label use as a weight loss aid (Off-label meaning it hasn’t been approved for weight loss). 

The Most Popular Drug in the World

The drug is currently at the center of a media frenzy.

There’s rumors that Kim K, Adele, James Corden and Oprah Winfrey are all on it.

Even Elon’s dabbled.

And where there’s celebrity endorsement, the public will follow.

People searching for a weight loss solution are jumping on it to see if the miracle drug lives up to the hype.

Due to demand, the treatment is literally flying off the shelves and manufacturer Novo Nordisk is unable to keep up.

Ozempic is currently out of stock until further notice which has caused users to switch to GLP-1 inhibitor alternatives, Mounjaro, Rybelsus and Trulicity.

And if celebrity media attention wasn’t enough, GLP-1 inhibitor influencers are sprouting up all over TikTok to share their weight loss journeys.

GLP-1 advocate and host of the The Plus SideZ podcast, Kim Carlos (@DMFKimOnMounjaroZepbound) documents the highs and lows of her GLP-1 inhibitor use and Influencer Ashley (@itsmekelsc) lost over 80 pounds in a year using Ozempic and shares before and after weight loss photos with her 270,000 followers.

What Do the Experts Say?

On one side you’ve got doctors praising GLP-1 inhibitors as the cure for Obesity. Others aren’t so sure. 

Dr. Robert F. Kushner, an advocate for Ozempic said it is “The most effective weight loss treatment we have to date”. Kushner conducted a study focusing on weight loss using Ozempic vs placebo which found that over 50% of the Ozempic group lost 15% or more of their body weight over a 68 week period.

On the other hand, Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, Associate Professor of medicine and pediatrics at Harvard Medical, says it’s not the wonder drug everyone makes it out to be.

The medication is most effective when combined with lifestyle changes such as a balanced diet and regular exercise.

Many TikTok influencers pride themselves on the face that they’ve been able to lose weight while eating the same diet.

As it turns out, eating an unhealthy diet and using a drug to counteract weight gain isn’t good for you.

And Stanford advised relying solely on Ozempic without addressing underlying lifestyle habits may lead to weight regain once the medication is discontinued.

The side effects can also be ruthless. Common ones such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are manageable but there have been reports of severe side effects such as kidney issues, pancreatitis and even suicidal ideation.

So, while Ozempic may work to lose a few pounds for your next summer holiday, the healthier option might be to hit the bike and eat a salad instead.

MARKETS
Tsunami Selloff 🌊 What Healthcare Investors Need to Know

Stock markets have been hit by a tsunami of red, with shares in the US, UK and Asia taking a deep dive due to fears of a looming US recession.

Tech stocks were hit hard, with the Nasdaq dropping by 6% and the S&P 500 falling by 4.2%. Even the Dow Jones couldn’t escape the chaos, losing more than 1,100 points. Over in Japan, the Nikkei 225 experienced its biggest drop since 1987, plummeting by 12%.

So what’s causing this tsunami? 🌊

Investors are spooked by weak US jobs data and signs that the Federal Reserve might be struggling to support the economy. A report showed the US added just 114,000 jobs last month, way below expectations, and the jobless rate climbed to its highest since October 2021. Add weak factory data to the mix, and it’s a recipe for panic.

Goldman Sachs raised the odds of a US recession from 15% to 25%, though they still see the risk as limited. Despite these assurances, investors flocked to safer assets. The yield on 10-year US bonds dropped to 3.68%, the lowest since June 2023, as government bond prices surged globally.

What does all this mean for healthcare stocks?

Typically, healthcare is seen as a defensive sector – people need medical care regardless of the economy. But this recent market shake-up has even the sturdy healthcare sector feeling the tremors.

Yahoo! Finance Healthcare Index which contains 1199 Healthcare companies including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, research services, hospitals and others has shown a decrease in -3.8% over the last 5 days.

For long-term investors, this could present a buying opportunity—if you can stomach the volatility. However, short-term traders might want to tread carefully as the market continues to search for solid ground.

STUDY
This Brain Implant Allows People to Control Tech using only the Mind 🧠 

In a plot twist straight out of Black Mirror, Synchron’s brain implant now lets patients control Apple’s Vision Pro headset with just their thoughts.

Yep, we’re officially living in the future.

This is huge for patients with paralysis, giving them the ability to interact with electronics through a brain-computer interface (BCI).

So, how does this sci-fi tech work?

In a quick procedure, Synchron’s BCI is implanted into a blood vessel near the brain’s motor cortex (the part of your brain that plans and executes movements). Unlike some other brain implants, Synchron’s device skips the whole “open brain surgery” part—because who wants that anyway?

The BCI reads the brain’s electrical signals (which are usually a bit noisy) and processes them into something that makes sense. It then translates those signals into digital commands and sends them off to control devices like a computer, a robotic limb, or in this case, Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Just think it, and boom—action.

Meet Mark.

Mark, a 64-year-old living with ALS, is one of the first to test out Synchron’s BCI. Diagnosed in January 2021, Mark has lost a lot of muscle function, but he can still speak and walk short distances. Since getting the implant in August 2023, he’s been texting, playing games, watching TV, and even creating art and stargazing—all with his mind.

Mark says the Vision Pro is comfortable, and he can use it for hours without feeling tired or getting motion sickness. His feedback is helping Synchron gear up for larger clinical studies, aiming to make this tech available to more people.

Mark is one of ten patients so far—six in the U.S. and four in Australia—with Synchron’s implant, which is still awaiting FDA approval.

Welcome to the future, folks.