275 - Inside Regeneron’s Groundbreaking Hearing Loss Gene Therapy Treatment Program

Gene therapy is rapidly emerging as a transformative approach for treating genetic hearing loss, with Regeneron advancing one of the field’s most promising candidates: DB-OTO. In this conversation, Regeneron's Auditory Global Program Head Dr. Jonathon Whitton provides an in-depth look at the company’s work developing a gene therapy targeting otoferlin-related hearing loss, a rare but significant condition causing congenital deafness in children. Whitton explains the scientific rationale behind targeting the OTOF gene, the challenges of delivering gene therapy to the inner ear, and why this therapy holds particular promise for pediatric patients. He also discusses how Regeneron is designing clinical trials with long-term outcomes in mind, as well as the broader implications for treating other forms of genetic hearing loss. This discussion offers valuable insights into the future of hearing therapeutics and the role large biotech companies may play in making genetic treatments more accessible. The following Regeneron pages highlight the company’s research on gene therapies for hearing loss and provide information on genetic testing and navigating a hearing loss diagnosis:https://aboutgenetichearingloss.comhttps://www.regeneron.com/stories/auditory-gene-therapyBe sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest episodes each week and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).- https://twitter.com/WeekinHearing- https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearing- https://hearinghealthmatters.org/thisweek/