New Drug Prospect Stimulates the Growth of Inner Ear Hair Cells

Biotech company Frequency Therapeutics is seeking to reverse hearing loss with a new form of regenerative therapy. The company is using a series of small molecules to induce progenitor cells, a stem cell derivative, to change into hair cells within the cochlea (hearing organ) in order to restore lost hearing function. As hearing loss is a key factor linked to the emergence of tinnitus this may prove to be a useful therapeutic approach for preventing and reducing this symptom.

In the company’s initial proof of concept clinical study, the sponsor reported statistically significant improvements in speech perception, in some participants, with some responses lasting for nearly two years.

The company has now announced a new clinical trial and will be recruiting for 124 participants with preliminary results being expected to be published next year.