TÜBINGEN, Germany, Nov. 24,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Acousia Therapeutics GmbH,
and its partners from the Translational Hearing Research Group at
the Tübingen Hearing Research Center (Department of Otolaryngology,
Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tübingen), will present
data on its lead candidates — clinical stage ACOU085 and late
preclinical stage ACOU082 — in two presentations at the 46th Annual
MidWinter Meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology
in Orlando (FL) on February 11–15,
2023.
Small-Molecule Kv7.4 Activator ACOU085 Protects Against
Cisplatin-Induced Hearing Loss and Outer Hair Cell Death in a
Guinea Pig Model
ACOU085 is a proprietary small molecule, etiology-agnostic
otoprotective drug candidate, expected to finish a first-in-man
clinical Phase 1b study by late 2022
using standard transtympanic administration of a slow-release gel
formulation. The ACOU085 presentation at the 2023 MidWinter Meeting
will focus on preclinical pharmacology data from a guinea pig
cisplatin-induced ototoxicity model, which supports the potential
of ACOU085 treatment for preventing chemotherapy-induced hearing
loss and outer hair cell apoptosis in cancer patients.
ACOU082: A Unique, Systemically Administered Kv7.4 Activator
Drug Candidate for the Treatment and Prevention of Age-Related
Hearing Loss
ACOU082 is a proprietary small molecule Kv7.4 developed for oral
administration with the potential to both acutely enhance natural
hearing and preserve hearing capacity against e.g. age-related
hearing loss. The ACOU082 presentation focuses on a
proof-of-concept study using the senescence-accelerated mouse
(SAMP8) model, which demonstrates the ability of chronic, systemic
ACOU082 administrations to significantly enhance hearing
sensitivity after just short-term treatment. Furthermore, ACOU082
also significantly reduced the progression of age-related hearing
loss as measured by ABR threshold shifts and compared to a
placebo-treated, vehicle control group.
Kv7.4 channels are strongly expressed in the sensory outer hair
cells of the cochlea, where they not only influence outer hair cell
amplification and frequency discrimination to maintain hearing
function, but also provide homeostatic resistance to deleterious
insults like drug-induced ototoxicity, noise exposure, and
aging.
About Acousia Therapeutics GmbH
Acousia Therapeutics GmbH is a privately-held, clinical stage
biotech company based in Tübingen, Germany. The company is dedicated to the
identification and development of small molecules for effective
prevention and treatment of different etiologies of hearing loss.
Acousia Therapeutics develops drugs for local and systemic
administration.
Contact
Tim Boelke,
M.D.
boelke@acousia.com
+49 70712988186
www.acousia.com
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hearing-loss-company-acousia-therapeutics-to-present-data-for-lead-candidates-acou085--acou082-at-aro-2023-midwinter-meeting-february-1115-301686564.html