Frequency Therapeutics — Hearing Loss Regeneration

Or maybe we just didn't know about it, because no internet ?

 

Well, if I understand the research of Liberman and Shore correctly, it is the synaptic loss in the inner-ear which triggers a loss of auditory input to the dorsal cochlear nucleus. As the brain searches for homeostasis and wants to keep the input on the same level, the input of the somatosensory nerves becomes more pronounced (i.e. hyperactivated). Both auditory and somatosensory nerves ultimately come together in the DCN. This would explain the somatic Tinnitus a lot of us have (hearing tones when moving jaw, turning head, etc) as this involves stimulating the facial nerves. This is of course hugely simplified.

If that's the case (and if I understood correctly), supplying the DCN with enough auditory stimulation due to the repaired synapses might result in toning down of the somatosensory nerve hyperactivity by the brain (seeking homeostasis again) and thus possibly toning down Tinnitus. At least the somatic Tinnitus...

 

Well, last time I went outside they are still taking the same audiograms for people with hearing loss and still trying to sell hearing aids to them, just like they did a few decades ago (only the hearing aids became arguably "more advanced"). The research might have continued, but I am sure not on the level as we see it now. There's a graph somewhere on this forum which shows the annual increase in research articles on Tinnitus and/or hearing loss, so I am fairly sure it is not that we "just didn't know about it", but rather that "nothing much happened".

However, I am sure the introduction of the internet makes it a whole lot easier for research groups to share their findings, increase their collective knowledge so they don't have to reinvent the wheel, and hence get us a treatment faster.

So yeah, interesting times I still think.

 

I experiment on myself enough to know that when I have my hearing aides in my T can be a 1 or a 0 some days. If I pull them out my T can get to a 5 within minutes. When I put my hearing aides in and start hearing sound it goes back to a 0 or a 1. Our brains are pretty plastic and will adjust accordingly.
There are so many conditions of H and T, but a general statement would be that when the hearing loss is corrected the T will go away. I have proven this in myself many many times and I think I am a typical example of getting T by having hearing loss and activated by anxiety.

 

It's impossible for any of us to say for certain but the tone of the articles, as others have mentioned, seems to be cautiously optimistic. How bad is your hearing loss? xx

 

@RB2014 Could you also tell us please how is the sharpness and comfort of your hearing along with tinnitus depending on volume and dynamic fluctuations when you wear hearing aids ? I mean : are the surrounding sounds becoming metallic / distorded along with tinnitus raise when surrounding volume and dynamics are raising, peaking etc ?
Nearly all hearing loss and tinnitus sufferers I've asked including me have this. I believe this phenomen should be more taken in consideration, assuming like some researchers that amplifying sound in the ear could lead to even more deleterious lesions. Unless you are lucky enough not having this issue.

 

I don't think I have what you are talking about. My tinnitus does not go up in volume and sounds do not become more distorted. If there is a very high volume then yes, my tinnitus will get worst, but with normal volume my tinnitus will go down with the sounds coming into my ear.
My left ear is worst than my right ear and I attribute that to not wearing a hearing aid in my left ear the first 10 years. I think not stimulating those frequencies makes the hair cells die faster. Its only speculation though, but my understanding and ability to hear are much better in my right ear after wearing a hearing aide in it for a longer time than my left.

 

By 2018, the journalist means/meant clinical trials; not market launch.

 

That explains. The sudden pace and optimism of things already caught my amazement. Of course that is not how it should be. Well, clinical trials it is then. Fair enough.

 

It's absolutely amazing that we have now 2 highly specilized companies working on regeneration programs. Decibel and Frequency has a lot of knowledge. And if they can run trials within 18 monthes, would be very nice.

 

So they will be phase 1 clinical trials.
They must have researched their approach for some years.

When they give an indication for when to expect clinical trials phase 1, they must be pretty confident. Phase one is only to see if there are no adverse effects in humans. But still, this surely can be placed under positive news.
News that keeps me going (-;

 

Im just a little curious are people hype about this because it can cure maybe hearing loss or maybe T ?

 

Yes, maybe. That is what the researchers at these companies are working for.
Cure or improve.
See different links.

 

I believe these companies know more than they are leading on. Why would they release research that has cost them millions of dollars and years of work prior to clinical trials.

There's a race for a treatment between multiple companies. I'm freakin' stoked!!

 

Let's hope that optimization of safety along with transparency will prevent crooks from hiding some dangerous side effects in this race. There was a link on the forum about a case in clinical trials for some diseases in China. The true seal of safety and efficiency might be the first and genuine patients themselves talking about how they feel, maybe even some years after the treatments launches

 

Not really new for most of us, but it is nice to see Hearing Loss treatments in a mainstream tech publication today:

https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/21/mit-hearing-loss/

 

One problem I envisage is strict enrolment criteria and will likely require participants to have profound hearing loss for enrollment for phase 1 at least.

I hope the companies widen the scope of their target market not just to cover 'profound' hearing loss but also other ear/balance related conditions + tinnitus. I fear if the regenerative treatments cover profound hearing loss only, it will be a bitch to get any treatment that comes to market for off label use for tinnitus.

 

Frequency is very clear that their leading indication is "chronic noise induced hearing loss". They are not clear about the level of loss, but my reading is that they might not restrict the treatment/trials to severe/profound loss. (It's just marketing, but their web page on hearing loss has people with earbuds and at concerts. These don't necessarily lead to severe or profound deafness.) They also make it clear that the injection method is in common use with an existing billing code so the main cost would be for the drug.

The bigger question isn't coverage for tinnitus, it is whether insurance companies would pay to restore high frequency hearing loss with otherwise normal hearing or to restore "mild" hearing loss that doesn't require hearing aid. At least in the US, hearing aids aren't typically covered by insurance so it seems like it might be a stretch to get reimbursement for regeneration in a case where a hearing aid is not required. It would be very useful to have much more sophisticated testing, and it is entirely possible that the need to be reimbursed might drive broader use of high frequency hearing tests or other advanced (or perhaps not net used) testing if the results of such tests resulted in insurance reimbursement.

 

The real question is what would the cost be of the drug? Would it be cheaper than a lifetime of hearing aids? My brother has purchased in his life conservatively 60,000 in aids, not to mention hundreds of thousands in private schools and speech therapy since he was born.

I hope in a few years they would have an estimated cost, if it's 100,000 no way could I ever afford that. If 10,000 I'd go tomorrow and write a check.

 

First comment under article

 

Does anyone know if you can pay to be first on the list for a clinical trial

 

I'm pretty sure you can't pay to be on the list of the clinical trial.

I get what you guys are saying, but really no one knows what will happen if this is applied to humans. That is why they will begin their testing on people with severe to profound hearing loss. If someone comes in with a 25db loss, which is not much, and then loses another 25db because of this procedure, they are going to be pretty ticked off. Look at the Novartis trial. Some people got worst after the injection.

Aaron123, I like your optimism and I think this will be a procedure that anyone can do with any type of loss, just not for the clinical trials.

Last time I went in for a simple procedure for my nose they wanted $5k after insurance to cover doctor, supplies, and 4 hours in a room at the hospital. I'd pay $5k easily. Really if I could get back my hearing I'd write a check for $50k or even $100k and just take out of loan on my house. Hearing aides are not covered and that is correct, but most ENT procedures are covered. I would think this would be covered by insurance if your hearing reaches a certain point, probably in the severe to profound range.

For what its worth, I'm in the states and I think I might be a candidate. I'm in the moderate(low) to severe/profound (high) range right now. I think even then my hearing is considered to good for most trials.

 

A bit more detail to the Techcrunch note related to Frequency Therapeutics:

http://news.mit.edu/2017/drug-treatment-combat-hearing-loss-0221

 

More info: http://www.frequencytx.com/news-events/pr-02-21-2017.php

Best part is:

 

It looks like a joke to me .

 

It is a joke. He is pretending he is a mouse. The mice have been cured, just not humans.
tiny squeaks....
eating cheese....
hates cats.....