Experimental drugs for the prevention or treatment of sensorineural hearing loss

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Sensorineural hearing loss results in irreversible loss of inner ear hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons. Reduced sound detection and speech discrimination can span all ages, and sensorineural hearing rehabilitation is limited to amplification with hearing aids or cochlear implants. Recent insights into experimental drug treatments for inner ear regeneration and otoprotection have paved the way for clinical trials in order to restore a more physiological hearing experience. Paired with the development of innovative minimally invasive approaches for drug delivery to the inner ear, new, emerging treatments for hearing protection and restoration are within reach.

Areas covered

This expert opinion provides an overview of the latest experimental drug therapies to protect from and to restore sensorineural hearing loss.

Expert opinion

The degree and type of cellular damage to the cochlea, the responsiveness of remaining, endogenous cells to regenerative treatments, and the duration of drug availability within cochlear fluids will determine the success of hearing protection or restoration.

KEYWORDS:

• inner ear therapeutics
• otoprotection
• regeneration
• small molecules
• synaptopathy
• sensorineural hearing loss

Article highlights

• Introduction into anatomy and physiology of the ear

• Discussion of novel, minimally invasive approaches geared toward protecting or restoring natural, biological hearing

• Overview over clinical trials for otoprotection and ongoing drug development and pre-clinical studies

• Summary of current knowledge on hair cell and synapse regeneration in the inner ear.

Declaration of interest

DH Jung acts as a consultant for Akouos and is an expert witness in the ongoing 3 M/Aero earplug litigation (both unrelated to the topics in this review). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.