A novel therapy developed by Vaxxinity, codenamed UB-312, is showing promise in early clinical trials for treating Parkinson’s disease by targeting and reducing toxic clumps of alpha-synuclein protein in cerebrospinal fluid, a key factor believed to drive the disease's progression. This groundbreaking approach marks a significant advancement in the potential treatment and prevention of Parkinson's, offering hope for disease-modifying treatment. Early trial results suggest that UB-312 can lower levels of harmful protein aggregates, which may lead to improved motor function in patients. While the therapy is still under investigation and requires further testing to confirm its safety and efficacy, it represents a hopeful development for the nearly one million Americans currently diagnosed with Parkinson’s and those who will be diagnosed in the future.

Parkinson's Drug Reduces Disease Markers in Breakthrough Trial ScienceAlert

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup, xAI, is set to open source Grok, its chatbot that competes with ChatGPT, amid Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI for veering away from its open-source foundation. Grok, launched for X premium subscribers, features real-time information access and eschews political correctness. Musk's legal action challenges OpenAI's partnership with Microsoft, alleging a deviation from its original commitment to make AI technology widely available and accusing it of becoming a closed-source entity focused on profit. This move sparks broader discussions within the tech community about the value and future of open-source AI research, drawing mixed reactions from notable figures and commentators.

Elon Musk to open-source AI chatbot Grok this week TechCrunch

AirPods Pro is expected to introduce a "hearing aid mode" with the upcoming iOS 18 release later this year, as reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. This feature, previously speculated in 2021, aims to cater to users with hearing impairments, though it should be noted that AirPods Pro are not classified as hearing aids by the FDA, requiring regulatory approval for such designation. Apple's innovation comes alongside the introduction of over-the-counter Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs), which amplify sounds for non-hearing impaired users, indicating a potential shift in how tech can aid hearing without the stringent regulations tied to medical devices. The exact details of how Apple will navigate FDA requirements for this feature remain unclear, including whether it will be marked explicitly as a tool for those with impaired hearing.

Gurman: AirPods Pro to Gain 'Hearing Aid Mode' in iOS 18 MacRumors

The cyberattack on Change Healthcare has inflicted severe disruptions on the U.S. healthcare system, with industry officials and analysts estimating the cost to health providers at up to $1 billion daily. This significant financial strain is expected to impact first-quarter earnings negatively, highlighting the critical role of Change's third-party payment systems, which are utilized by approximately half of the U.S. healthcare sector. Despite efforts to restore these systems, the process is complex, involving extensive manual workarounds and additional administrative tasks for hospitals, pharmacies, doctors, and medical equipment vendors. The situation has led to a considerable loss in revenue since February 21, when the cyberattack initially took systems offline. With federal officials stepping in to provide emergency funds and calls for UnitedHealth to assist, the sector faces a challenging period of recovery, complicated further by potential delays in payments and the likelihood of unrecovered funds due to administrative errors.

Health care providers losing up to $1B a day from cyberattack Axios