UK Syndicate launched to fast-track hearing loss and tinnitus drug therapies

The initiative has been launched jointly by the charity Action on Hearing Loss and Medicines Discovery Catapult, and will work in partnership with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) through its Biomedical Research Centres (BRC) with leading academic expertise in hearing research from University College London Hospitals BRC, Nottingham BRC and Manchester BRC, and the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult.

Medicines Discovery Catapult is a UK government-funded project aimed at fomenting innovative drug discovery through connecting up a fragmented sector of industry, academia, charities, technologists, services, finance companies, small to mid-size enterprises (SMEs), and start-ups. The Catapult website points out that this new Syndicate responds to a fast-growing panorama of developments in "the understanding of the biology underlying hearing loss". The moment of opportunity, it argues, is optimum.

Dr Alessandra Gaeta, Syndicates Programme Director at Medicines Discovery Catapult, explains: “The Hearing Medicines Discovery Syndicate brings together partners that provide unique knowledge, expertise and specialised networks to accelerate research in hearing therapeutics. We are motivated to support innovators through their journey of bringing new therapeutics to the clinic in this area of unmet need. We encourage all those interested to get in touch.”

Meanwhile, Dr Ralph Holme, Executive Director of Research at Action on Hearing Loss, says: “People with hearing loss tell us that being able to hear well would transform their lives. Our initiative will help bring life-changing treatments to people with hearing loss and tinnitus faster.”

Source: Catapult