http://www.bendbulletin.com/business/2766151-151/ears-are-new-focus-for-drugmakers# Ears are new focus for drugmakers By Andrew Pollack / New York Times News Service Published Jan 10, 2015 at 12:27AM Driving to a meeting in 2008, Jay Lichter, a venture capitalist, suddenly became so dizzy he had to pull over and call a friend to take him to the emergency room. The diagnosis: Ménière’s disease, a disorder of the inner ear characterized by debilitating vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. But from adversity can spring opportunity. When Lichter learned there were no drugs approved to treat Ménière’s, tinnitus or hearing loss, he started a company, Otonomy. It is one of a growing cadre of startups pursuing drugs for the ear, an organ once largely neglected by the pharmaceutical industry. Two such companies, Otonomy and Auris Medical, went public in 2014. Big pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and Roche are also exploring the new frontier. A clinical trial recently began of a gene therapy being developed by Novartis that is aimed at restoring lost hearing. The sudden flurry of activity has not yet produced a drug that improves hearing or silences ringing in the ears, but some companies are reporting hints of promise in early clinical trials. There is a huge need, some experts say. About 48 million Americans have a meaningful hearing loss in at least one ear; 30 million of them have it in both ears, said Dr. Frank Lin, an associate professor of otolaryngology and geriatric medicine at Johns Hopkins University. That figure is expected to increase as baby boomers grow older. A drug to treat or prevent age-related hearing loss “will be something that people take every day for the rest of their life,” said Edwin Rubel, a professor of hearing science at the University of Washington and co-founder of a startup called Oricula Therapeutics. “Even if it could just delay age-related hearing loss by five or 10 years, that would be wonderful.” But challenges remain. Efforts in the past to develop ear drugs, to the extent they were made, largely failed. The inner ear, which is crucial to both hearing and balance, is almost impenetrable, making it difficult to study or for drugs to enter. “It’s a teeny organ encased in a really, really hard bone,” said Dr. Hinrich Staecker, professor of otolaryngology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. “The whole inner ear fits inside the tip of your pinkie.”
Oh how I wish it were only hearing loss we suffer from! Glad some attention is going there by the drug companies.
I'm wondering if clinical trials will become available once they figure it out. They have to know that Antivirals are now being used to treat Menieres, hopefully that will have an impact on the research. They should come here. They would probably get a bigger picture of what all the symptoms are and how each of us has different symptoms/treatments. It's a start.
Otomony the company formed by the man with MM has clinical trials for awhile now http://www.otonomy.com/pipeline/oto-104/
yup but there is about 10% of people with MM that antivirals do not help so something like this or something else could be an answer for them to get symptom relief. The best thing would be a cure for Meniere's, but if HSV is the cause they would need to develope a drug that kills viruses, and there is a drug being tested does just that. If I recall correctly it is called DRACO.
Draco led me to Draper Laboratories, which is a non profit researching the effect of Draco on viruses including those that could be used in bio-terrorism. The projected release date for treatment is 5-10 years. However, there is a contact phone number available. I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile to call but I wouldn't know where to begin with questions.
Hi. I'm new here. I was just diagnosed with MD on St. Patrick's Day! My initial reaction was, "I don't want to have a disease!!" The first symptom was sudden in February 2013 with a debilitating vertigo attack with vomiting, et al. I thought I was dying! Lasted four days. The next wasn't until one year later. Then every month for five months. Then none. The bad vertigo "attacks" stopped in May 2014. But I have the pressure, the bubbly sound and pressure and mild hearing loss. But, like I read on the "For Newbies", I feel like there's something in my ear that is trying to get out! And I'm curious about the anti-fungal approach. Where should I start?
Hey, Susan. I'm not so knowledgable when regarding the anti-fungal approach. Your question will likely receive much more attention & subsequent input & advice concerning possible anti-fungal treatments if you initiate a new thread titled accordingly. That way your question will stand independently without being lost among discussions of venture capitalism, the pharmaceutical industry et cetera. Welcome to the forum, btw.
LOL deadeye, Susan I agree with Nathan about starting your own thread. As far as anitfungals papajoe had many posts about that you can search these and the archive forums. He had great success with antifungals.
Thank you so much for this information.i was feeling so very depressed with the constant feeling of hearing fluctuation in my left ear. I was recently diagnosed 7 weeks ago and feel so afraid of going deaf I think I have it in he rt ear as well not sure just feel slight changes. You made my day today by posting this felt so hopeless and depressed along with panic attacks This appears to be very promising after researching it. )) keep on praying for help
Thank u so much for this post. I was diagnosed 7 weeks ago and Have a lot of hearing fluctuation and discomfort so afraid of going deaf I think I may have in both ears it's the left ear that heari g is affected The rt ear feels a bit of presure. So thank you after researching f This it sounds very promising so just to let you know you made my day this thing Is terrifying to me I am not handling it well at all very depressed this was Very good to read about ! Will keep praying
Hi Lisa, You are not alone, we understand how frightening this disease is and are here for you. Please make a thread in this section, I saw you posted in the database. The living room is where you will get more responses and suggestions. I have great success with antivirals, so have many others. I have been symptom free for 2 years except for mild tinnitus. No vertigo attacks or dizziness since I started antivirals. Dr Gacek wrote a great paper on antivirals and his success rate is about 90% You can find that in the database section http://www.mm3admin.co.za/documents/docmanager/6e64f7e1-715e-4fd6-8315-424683839664/00056616.pdf (page 104 gives the doses) along with an even more informative articles documenting many doctors and studies showing a viral cause. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568997212000092 You should also look into MAV Migraine associated vertigo (headache not required) and see of any applies to you. http://menieres.org/talk/index.php?topic=32.0 Many of us who have MM also have MAV
This is the best news thank u For sharing I've been so depressed and Only have this for 2 month but it is greatly Affecting my left ear. I researched it and it does Sound very promising hopefully it will be available Sooner then later . Stay well