PARIS–Sanofi, a major global pharmaceutical company, announced June 16 a 2-year research collaboration with Audion Therapeutics to develop potential treatments for hearing loss through a regenerative medicine approach.
Sanofi <www.sanofi.com>, which is based in Paris, and the Dutch company Audion will use technology that Dr. Albert Edge developed at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary’s Eaton-Peabody Laboratory in Boston. Edge, a co-founder of Audion, is a leading expert in the area of stem cells and inner ear biology. Audion licensed his technology from Mass Eye and Ear. Under the terms of the agreement, Sanofi has an option to license technology rights from Audion related to research conducted under the collaboration.
RolfJan Rutten and Helmuth van Es, the other co-founders of Audion, said, “We are very excited about this collaboration with Sanofi that validates our thinking around developing small-molecule regenerative drugs for the treatment of hearing loss. Sanofi’s interest in the hearing loss field, plus its vast experience and infrastructure in small-molecule drug discovery, makes them the perfect partner to move this program forward.”
As part its new R&D model, Sanofi created five Therapeutic Strategic Units (TSUs) to focus on major patho-physiologies, pressing public health needs, or major geographic areas. One of these is the Aging Unit, which aims to treat age-related diseases, including hearing loss, globally and to provide practical integrated healthcare solutions for the elderly.
The World Health Organization estimates that 500 million people worldwide have a mild to moderate to severe or greater hearing loss. Of people aged 65 to 74, nearly 33% have hearing loss and close to 50% of people over the age of 75 are affected. There are currently no prescription products for a disease-modifying treatment for hearing loss.
Audion Therapeutics <www.audiontherapeutics.com>, which is headquartered in Amsterdam, is dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of drugs and delivery technologies for the treatment of diseases affecting the ear, including hearing loss.
