LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CILcare Inc., the world’s leading CRO specializing in hearing therapies, will present preclinical data at the upcoming “ARO 14th Annual Mid-Winter Meeting” in San Diego validating the effect of NAC natural active ingredient in age-related hearing loss. The antioxidant, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC), delays the senescence process by slowing the age-related hearing loss and protecting cochlear hair cells of SAMP8 mice.
“Age-related hearing loss is the most common sensory disorder in the elderly population. These preclinical results strongly suggest that antioxidants could be a pharmacological target for age-related hearing disorders,” said CILcare’s Sergio Gonzalez, PhD, principal investigator for the study. Results will be presented on Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. PT in the “Ototherapeutics I” session of the ARO mid-winter meeting. Meetings can be set with Dr. Gonzalez at the CILcare Exhibit Booth #8.
Preclinical to Clinical research in testing new pharmacological candidates for treating age-related hearing disorders has been enhanced by a recently established industry alliance: In October 2017, CILcare announced a consortium with CBSET Inc., a non-profit translational research institute specializing in the advancement of novel therapies; and Draper Inc., a not-for-profit R&D institute focused on the design, development, and deployment of advanced technological solutions. The collaboration is focusing on the assessment and testing of Draper’s novel intracochlear drug delivery (ICDD) device for hearing loss and related indications. With the ability to maintain a precise and constant volume of the inner ear liquid and with its small size, the ICDD highlights an innovative technological solution to treat patients.
The CILcare/CBSET/Draper partnership is working to assess the ICDD device with the use of CILcare’s hearing loss preclinical models, and the operational support of CBSET’s GLP-compliant facility for preclinical research and development. To strengthen this collaboration and test the ICDD with drug candidates, CILcare has formed an industrial consortium with biopharmaceutical companies developing compounds in this underserved therapeutic area. The consortium aims to provide the partnered companies with proof-of-concept data on the efficacy of delivering their compounds using Draper’s ICDD in animal models, an indispensable step before going into human clinical trials.
“With 360 million people suffering from hearing loss in the world the stakes are high, and this collaboration is providing a fast track for the development of safe, direct and effective treatments for patients. The intracochlear drug delivery device is revolutionizing the treatment of inner ear diseases by circumventing the tissue permeation barriers that have long hampered the development of pharmacotherapies for hearing disorders,” said Célia Belline, CEO, CILcare.
“The ICDD device’s infuse/withdraw cycles allow delivery of solutions with a zero net-volume change in the cochlear fluid. This technology developed by Draper enables effective distribution of each dose without damaging sensitive hearing structures and fulfills the need for precise and direct intracochlear drug administration. This industrial consortium is a tremendous opportunity to accelerate the development of this device and bring a first proof-of-concept of efficacy in animals. This step is essential to qualify and optimize the device for fitting with human needs,” added Jeff Borenstein, Technical Director, Draper.
“With GLP-compliant and AAALAC-accredited, state-of-the-art laboratories and expertise in implantable local drug delivery devices, CBSET is well-positioned to contribute to the success of this alliance. With no effective treatment on the market to cure hearing loss, the need for emerging therapies is growing. This collaboration is enabling us to contribute to the development of promising therapies,” said Peter Markham, President and CEO, CBSET.
