Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced

AC102 restores hearing in a preclinical model of sudden hearing loss by protecting inner ear neurons and their neuronal connections A Phase-2-clinical study evaluates the efficacy of AC102 in sudden hearing loss patients BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A single application of the novel compound AC102 almost completely restores noise-induced hearing loss in preclinical models. This is the key finding of a recent publication in the prestigious scientific journal PNAS by the Berlin-based start-up AudioCure Pharma. Sudden hearing loss is often treated with anti-inflammatory corticosteroids without regulatory approval or reliable evidence of effectiveness. Therefore, new treatment options are urgently needed for this condition. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Inner hair cells in the inner ear (picture: Nemes Laszlo/Shutterstock.com) Noise-induced hearing loss was used to evaluate the efficacy of AC102 in a preclinical model. A single middle ear application of AC102 after noise trauma restores hearing to near pre-trauma levels after 14 days. In contrast, treatment without the active compound resulted in a profound hearing loss. Further experiments show that AC102 targets the two suspected main causes of sudden hearing loss in the inner ear: It prevents the death of outer hair sensory cells and protects the connections between neurons and the auditory nerve. “It is fascinating how a single molecule has such diverse effects in the inner ear. In laboratory experiments, we see that AC102 protects neurons by increasing their energy production and reducing the production of free radicals. At the same time, it stimulates the regeneration of neurons and sensory cells enabling the reformation of lost connections,” explains Professor Hans Rommelspacher, CSO and founder of AudioCure Pharma. Sudden hearing loss is a debilitating condition that can severely impair speech understanding and have a negative impact on a patient's life. Corticosteroids have been used to treat this condition for 50 years, despite lack of approval. Also, their effectiveness has been questioned. Recently, a large study (HODOKORT) showed that more than 60% of patients with sudden hearing loss did not fully recover after corticosteroid treatment. Dr. Reimar Schlingensiepen, CEO of AudioCure Pharma, explains, "The HODOKORT study highlights the treatment gap for sudden hearing loss. We are therefore very excited about the promising effects of AC102 in our preclinical models and hope that patients will also benefit from it." Following successful safety and tolerability testing, AC102 is currently being evaluated for efficacy in a pan-European Phase 2 clinical study in patients with sudden hearing loss. View source version on businesswire.com: Contacts AudioCure Pharma GmbH Frauke Luers Phone: +49 30 2218 397-0 E-Mail: pr@ac-clinical.com Web: Source: AudioCure Pharma GmbH Smart Multimedia Gallery Photo Inner hair cells in the inner ear (picture: Nemes Laszlo/Shutterstock.com) Logo View this news release and multimedia online at:

Drugs that trap excess zinc in the inner ear could help restore lost hearing or, if administered before an expected loud sound exposure, can protect from hearing loss, study suggests. Anyone who has ever been to a loud concert knows the feeling of ringing ears. Some people experience temporary or even permanent hearing loss or drastic changes in their perception of sound after the loud noises stop. Thanos Tzounopoulos, Ph.D., director of the Pittsburgh Hearing Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has focused his scientific career on investigating how hearing works and developing ways to treat tinnitus and hearing loss. In a paper published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Tzounopoulos and his Pitt collaborators Amantha Thathiah, Ph.D., and Chris Cunningham, Ph.D., discovered a molecular mechanism of noise-induced hearing loss and showed that it could be mitigated with medication.   The study showed that noise-induced hearing loss, which affects millions of Americans, stems from cellular damage in the inner ear that is associated with the excess of free-floating zinc – a mineral that is essential for proper cellular function and hearing. Experiments in mice showed drugs that work as molecular sponges trapping excess zinc can help restore lost hearing or, if administered before an expected loud sound exposure, can protect from hearing loss. “Noise-induced hearing loss impairs millions of lives but, because the biology of hearing loss is not fully understood, preventing hearing loss has been an ongoing challenge,” said senior author Thanos Tzounopoulos, Ph.D., endowed professor and vice-chair of research of otolaryngology at Pitt. While some experience noise-induced hearing loss as a result of an acute traumatic injury to the ear, others notice a sudden hearing impairment after being continuously exposed to loud noise, for example in a battlefield or at a construction site. Others notice their hearing deteriorating after attending a loud music show. Researchers say such noise-induced hearing loss can be debilitating. Some people start hearing sounds that aren’t there, developing a condition called tinnitus, which severely affects a person’s quality of life. Tzounopoulos’ research, which focuses on the biology of hearing, tinnitus and hearing loss, strived to determine the mechanistic underpinnings of the condition in the effort to lay the groundwork for the development of effective and minimally invasive treatments in the future. By performing experiments in mice and on isolated cells of the inner ear, researchers found that hours after mice are exposed to loud noise, their inner ear zinc level spikes. Loud sound exposure causes a robust release of zinc into the extra and intracellular space which, ultimately, leads to cellular damage and disrupts normal cell to cell communication. Thankfully, this discovery opens doors for a possible solution. Experiments showed mice who were treated with a slow-releasing compound that trapped excess free zinc were less prone to hearing loss and were protected from noise-induced damage. Researchers are currently developing a treatment to be tested in preclinical safety studies with the goal of making it available as a simple, over-the-counter option to protect oneself from hearing loss. Other authors of the study are first author Brandon Bizup, Ph.D., and co-author Sofie Brutsaert, both of Pitt.

THURSDAY, Jan. 25, 2024 -- Folks think of big city life as an ear-blasting festival of noise -- taxi horns honking, jackhammers pounding, police sirens wailing and jet planes roaring overhead. But rural residents actually have a higher rate of hearing loss in both ears than city dwellers do, a new study finds. Men are also more likely than women to suffer hearing loss, with the highest rates seen among white people and seniors 65 and older. Known as the Sound Check study, the research represents the first attempt to map the prevalence of hearing loss across the United States, the investigators said. What did they discover? Largely rural states like West Virginia, Alaska, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Arizona had the highest rates of hearing loss. Meanwhile, the lowest rates of hearing loss were found in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Connecticut and the District of Columbia. “The number one risk factor for hearing loss is aging, but the map tells us that where you live impacts your hearing as well,” said principal investigator David Rein , a senior fellow at the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center. “Surprisingly, people living in urban areas with large populations and traffic noise have less hearing loss prevalence than people in rural areas,” Rein added in a university news release. The study used national data on Americans’ hearing to estimate hearing loss down to the state and even the county level, researchers said. It found that nearly 38 million Americans -- more than one in nine -- suffer from some form of bilateral hearing loss, or hearing loss in both ears. Hearing loss starts to increase significantly beginning at age 35, results show. The rate of hearing loss increases to just under one in seven for people 35 and older, and one in about one and a half for people 75 and older. The new study was published Jan. 24 in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas journal. People living in rural areas could be at higher risk for hearing loss due to noise exposure from outdoor work using heavy machinery, the researchers speculated. Rural folks also indulge in recreational activities that can harm hearing, including riding on loud all-terrain vehicles and shooting off firearms. A hunter without ear protection can damage their hearing after firing off just a few rounds from a rifle or shotgun, study co-author Nicholas Reed , an audiologist and assistant professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University, told the Associated Press . By the same token, someone riding a noisy subway could go six to eight hours before being at risk of hearing loss, Reed said. Unfortunately, people living in rural areas are also the least likely to have easy access to hearing specialists, researchers said. In older adults, hearing loss has been associated with higher risk of dementia, depression, falls, heart attack and premature death, researchers said. Hearing loss is permanent and cannot be reversed, but noise-related hearing loss can be prevented by avoiding loud noises or wearing hearing protection, researchers said. “We need to recognize the impact that hearing loss has on our emotional, social and cognitive health,” said Donna Smiley , chief staff officer for audiology at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. “What the public needs to know is that hearing is as important to your health as clear vision,” Smiley added. “Getting glasses is not a big deal, but neither is getting hearing aids or wearing hearing protection when it’s needed.” Sources University of Chicago, news release, Jan. 24, 2024 Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions. Posted January 2024 More news resources FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts Daily MedNews News for Health Professionals New Drug Approvals New Drug Applications Drug Shortages Clinical Trial Results Generic Drug Approvals Subscribe to our newsletter Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.