Breakthrough gene therapy jab reverses hearing loss in weeks
Single injection sees seven-year-old regain almost all hearing
- New research from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet shows that a single gene therapy injection can reverse hearing loss in people with congenital deafness or severe hearing impairment.
- A clinical trial, detailed in Nature Medicine, involved injecting a healthy OTOF gene into the inner ear of 10 participants with OTOF gene mutations.
- All participants experienced significant hearing improvement, with a seven-year-old girl regaining almost full hearing within weeks of treatment.
- The therapy led to rapid hearing recovery, often within a month, and sustained improvement over six months, with children aged five to eight responding best.
- Researchers confirmed the treatment was safe and well-tolerated, and are now exploring similar therapies for other genetic causes of deafness.