Sheffield based company develops therapy which could be ‘transformative’ for people with hearing loss

A regenerative cell therapy that could repair damage to the auditory nerve and improve hearing could hold fresh hope for people living with hearing loss. Sheffield based biotech company Rinri Therapeutics discussed their work, which will see the first clinical trial of a stem cell treatment for hearing loss, at the Hearing Therapeutics Summit, organised by RNID with the UCL Ear Institute and UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre.

Hearing loss affects 12 million people in the UK, and increases as we get older, affecting more than 40 per cent of over 50s and rising to 70 per cent of over 70s. People with hearing loss often experience communication barriers, and are less likely to be employed than the general population.

They are twice as likely to experience mental health problems, including depression, and can be up to five times more likely to develop dementia. 1.2 million adults in the UK have hearing loss severe enough that they would not be able to hear most conversational speech.

Rinri’s groundbreaking work was founded on pioneering research into regenerative cell therapy, led by Professor Marcelo Rivolta at the University of Sheffield. Funded by RNID, the charity supporting people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, his laboratory team discovered how to turn pluripotent stem cells into specialised auditory nerve cells that carry information to the brain.

These cells were able to reverse hearing loss, resulting in approximately 40 per cent improvement in the hearing threshold.

Rinri’s work is now at an advanced stage of preclinical development and the company hope to start clinical trials in the next two years with patients with deficiencies in the auditory nerve, such as those with severe-to-profound age-related hearing loss.

Patients will receive Rincell-1, which will regenerate auditory neurons and re-establish the transmission of nerve signals from the inner ear to the auditory centres of the brain to reverse hearing loss. If clinical trials are successful, Rincell-1 could be available as a treatment to people with hearing loss within the next 5-10 years.

Professor Marcelo Rivolta, founder and CSO of Rinri Therapeutics, said: “It is well recognised that hearing loss significantly impacts quality of life, affecting 1 in 5 adults in the UK. A biological solution that can restore hearing significantly would be transformative to people with hearing loss, and we look forward to taking the next step by starting clinical trials in 2025.”

Dr. Simon Chandler, CEO of Rinri Therapeutics, said: “The number of people with hearing loss is staggering, on a par with the global incidence of diabetes and osteoarthritis, yet there is currently no treatment available to restore hearing or prevent hearing loss.”

Dr. Ralph Holme, director of research and insight at RNID, said: “RNID and our supporters are really excited about Rinri’s work, which could result in a life-changing treatment for millions of people with age-related hearing loss caused by damage to the auditory nerve.

“Whilst devices like hearing aids and cochlear implants can be hugely beneficial to people with hearing loss, they are not a complete solution and people still face significant barriers in their daily lives.

“For years, people with hearing loss have dreamed of a future where treatments to restore hearing will be available, and so it’s exciting to see therapies like this which could offer hope to so many approaching clinical trials. Thank you to our supporters who have helped fund this important work, which could benefit millions in the future.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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