Neuralink claims to have got FDA approval for human trials.

Several years after the tech mogul declared that testing would start, the US Food and Drug Administration, which had earlier refused the application, has granted the business the go-ahead.

Neuralink, an Elon Musk-founded brain chip company, announced that it has been received the go-ahead to begin conducting tests on humans.

In a tweet sent on Thursday, Neuralink revealed that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had given its authorization for the company to "launch our first-in-human clinical study."

It is "an essential first step that will eventually allow our technology to help many people," according to the statement.

The company also stated it was not yet seeking but did not go into detail about the study's goals or when trials will begin.

Mr. Musk hopes that the technology may one day treat problems including obesity, autism, depression, and schizophrenia in addition to allowing online browsing and telepathy. Last year, Musk stated that he would be glad to use his children as test subjects because they are so safe.

Since 2019, the billionaire has made clear at least four times that Neuralink would soon begin human trials, but the company didn't really submit for FDA approval until early last year.

The implant's lithium battery, the possible risk of its wires migrating inside the brain, and whether the device could be detached safely without harming brain tissue were the key concerns that the FDA rejected at the time, stating that these issues needed to be fixed before approving human trials.

The 2016-founded Neuralink has been at the centre of numerous federal investigations.

It apparently came under inspection in December of last year for alleged in violation of animal welfare in its activities, which it has refuted.

According to a research, 1,500 animals lost over the course of four years, which prompted internal concerns that animal testing was being rushed, which lead to unnecessary suffering and deaths.

Staff reported that Musk raised the pressure for quicker development, which resulted in experiments that had to be redone.

According to one instance, 25 pigs had been inserted with devices that were the inappropriate size; this error could have been prevented through better planning.

Neuralink continues to work on an implant that it hopes will enable paralysed people to walk again and heal other neurological conditions.

This week, Swiss researchers showcased the technology's potential.

A set of surgical implants that wirelessly transmits his thoughts to both his feet and legs allowed an individual from Netherlands who is paralysed to walk just by thinking about it.