While it remains an established scientific fact that over one-third of the senior citizens in the world suffer from the moderate hearing loss, there is no drug available in the market which can cure hearing loss despite extraordinary advancements in medicine. “We thought, ‘These side effects in an Alzheimer’s patient are exactly what we’re looking for in treating deafness”, said Edge, before trying it out on lab mice.
Advertisement
Ultimately, with something as innovative and untested as hair cell regeneration, it could be years or even decades before we have a working long-term cure for hearing-loss, but start-ups and pharmaceutical companies are in the race for the long-haul.
The biggest hope is that humans, with the help of a new drug, will be able to regrow sensory hair cells – something which animals like fish and birds already have the capability of doing.
A breakthrough came in 2013, based on research by Dr. Albert Edge: Scientists grew regenerated hair cells in the cochlea of mice, allowing the mice to detect otherwise missing frequencies. “So we made a decision to try that idea out in these mice”. The drug is now being tested on animals and will soon clinical trials on humans are expected soon.
“Primarily we aim to show that it is safe and well tolerated”, says Rolf Jan Rutten, Audion’s CEO, “And also we will look for an efficacy signal”, he added.
The procedure would involve releasing the drug locally, perhaps as a foam or using a tube in the tympanic membrane to send doses into the middle ear.
Advertisement
But, how great would it be if those people who struggle with hearing loss could have this resolved so they can enjoy the full experience?
