MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY

Gene Therapy Restores Hearing in Children with Genetic Deafness

a year ago

• A clinical trial has demonstrated the successful use of gene therapy to restore hearing in children with DFNB9-related genetic deafness. • Five out of six children with total deafness recovered their hearing, enabling them to conduct normal conversations after gene therapy. • The gene therapy introduces a functional OTOF gene via an inactive virus, addressing the root cause of deafness in DFNB9. • This breakthrough represents a significant milestone, offering a potential treatment for various genetic hearing loss types.