Hearing-Loss-Prevention Drugs Closer to Reality Thanks to New Test

This is good, but again it's for prevention. Wish they'd come up with something to fix it once the damage is done.

 

NIH awards researcher $972,613 for his drug research aimed at treating & preventing tinnitus

Jianxin Bao, researcher and professor of anatomy and neurobiology at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), received a federal grant to support further research and development of the prevention and treatment of tinnitus, a disruptive hearing impairment marked by the perception of ringing or buzzing in one or both ears.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant — which comes from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders, a division of the National Institutes of Health — provides $972,613 for Bao's efforts to produce the first human treatment for tinnitus, which impacts one in 10 American adults and is the No. 1 disability reported by veterans, according to a news release. About 1.5 million U.S. veterans receive disability benefits for tinnitus, which currently has no available treatment.

Subject to availability of funds and satisfactory progress on the project, Bao could receive a second year of cost support with a recommended amount of $1,207,345, according to the release.

"This generous government support will allow us to continue working toward finding the first drug treatment for tinnitus, which is a major health issue for millions of people — including the military personnel who so bravely serve our country," said Bao, who will serve as principal investigator, in a provided statement.

He aims to develop a drug to treat and prevent the impairment.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calls occupational hearing loss the most common work-related injury in the U.S., with an estimated $242 million spent annually on worker's compensation for hearing loss disability, according to the release.

"Millions of people in the United States live with tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss every day, so I am pleased to see this federal investment in research and development that can improve the lives of so many people," U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Youngstown, said in a statement announcing the award.

 

The more economic damage a disease does, the more scientific research happens.

 

I guess this amount would be for pre clinical research and not clinical trial stage development as that would take many millions.

 

Jianxin Bao is the CEO/founder of Gateway Biotechnology (unless it's a coincidence and they share the same name). Wonder if/how this ties into to what they are doing.

 

This tends to be why I think that suddenly there is a lot of investment, research and trials going into it. I know that this stuff has been worked on for a considerable number of years now and actually we are seeing the results from the post research and manufacture stage. Firms are fully focused on developing and producing something that will provide relevant improvements in the near future for this.

The economic argument is actually a two part part catalyst for this though. One part is the economic loss factor and the desire to overcome that but also actually it is also about economic gain as entities producing these drugs do know that they can be pretty profitable. This is especially as when you look at the value of the current treatment that's available and already know that they would be able to charge similarly for repair treatment.

The science part particularly seems to be largely sorted so shall be up to now just getting the delivery and treatment organised.

 

Gateway Biotechnology
Discussion in 'Research News' started by FGG, Feb 4, 2020.

@FGG - remember this.

 

Dr. Bao/Gateway Biotechnology, Inc. has received a large grant from NIDCD to develop a drug to cure tinnitus. Read about it HERE.

"Gateway Biotechnology, Inc., has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research Grant (SBIR) grant of $972,613 from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders (a division of the National Institutes of Health) for further research and development on tinnitus prevention and treatment. A second year of cost support, subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory progress of the project, was recommended in the amount of $1,207,345."

If you know or find anything about this researcher's work, please share.

Many thanks, TC

 

https://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/1162547

It's about stopping hearing loss with exposure, not fixing it. The tinnitus treatment is so far away with this company too. It's only in preclinicals. Here's the pipeline.

http://www.gatewaybiotechnology.com/#team-skills

 

If I'm reading that chart right, it looks like they are about to start phase one. Anyone know if they have done an IND enabling study yet?

 

They've mentioned both prevention & treatment. In the latter case, I wonder how much effect this GW-201 would entail for chronic cases. Unfortunately, I cannot find any research paper or reference on the website that tells a little bit about how GW-201 could treat tinnitus.

 

There's nothing on SIBR or NIDCD's websites about the new grant. It could be that the additional grant money is to move up the tinnitus research. I think we need more info.

 

Could somebody write them on behalf of Tinnitus Talk?

 

If done on behalf of Tinnitus Talk, I think that would be @Markku or @Hazel's call. The announcement is on the Northeast Ohio Medical University's website, but Bao's company Gateway Biotechnology is mentioned.

 

From what I read, I think it seems to be working on calcium channel blockers... it is for acute cases or prevention mainly. When these calcium channel blockers are administered prior to cochlear damage they preserve hair cells. After the injury, these calcium channel blockers also do the same thing. So far no mention about it treating chronic cases.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1903349/

 

So we could maybe pause our damage. That would be nice too, until FX-322 comes out.

 

I’m sorry to pour cold water (I really hope I’m wrong), it’s mainly tested to work well on acute cases and for prevention.

 

Oh, I know it won't help at this point. The freeze was meant to refer to the preventative part. If we prevent more damage and hair cell death, we're able to do more when regeneration comes out.

 

Yes, we could prevent more harm being done.