Cochlea-Targeted Delivery of a Neurotrophic Agent as a Strategy for the Treatment of Hearing Loss

[Margus]

Why would a company invest $2.9 Billion to approve a drug that, once approved, anyone ENT can just make themselves for $0 a dose and can't be patented?

As you stated yourself 7,8 DHF is already a known drug, so then why do you compare it with investments required to develop new drugs?

Besides pharma companies are trying to cover costs of all previous failed trials with one successful. It doesn't mean that costs of the last successful drug were so high. For example there are hundreds of trials and billions invested in dementia research over the last 15 years, and 100% failed so far. Clearly anything that will reach market one day is going to be very expensive.

 

[JohnAdams]

As you stated yourself 7,8 DHF is already a known drug, so then why do you compare it with investments required to develop new drugs?

What?
I'm saying no company is going to pay for the trials to get it approved for use in this manner. Once they do anyone else will be able to make it because it is non proprietary.

 

[JohnAdams]

Nobody has to wait for the FDA.

Hypothetically, one could synthesize the solution along with the correct dosage all that would be needed is the gel and an ENT manual for giving shots into the ear canal.

Of course nobody would be able to sell the solution or patent it and they would need full liability signed away for treatments...

Let me guess... Not legal and highly unethical?

You cant just sign away liability like that. It would be illegal for the doctors.

 

[JohnAdams]

post like these can literally cause me to have panic attacks and consider suicide.
I cannot go the rest of my life with comprised hearing only expected to get worse.

It's okay, there are in fact proprietary drugs coming to cure hearing loss. It just sucks that others that are cheaper and probably better dont have a shot.

 

[streeter1985]

History showed that you dont need a patent on ingredients to make money. Just look at Aspirin from Bayer. The important substance had also no patent and I guess they made and make a lot of money with it

They will find a way to make money and there are so many sufferers you get much more money out of the patients and upcoming patients already I think.

And dont say it changed today how that works Never touch a running system

The only thing I am afraid is when the first treatment comes to the market that insurance companies that cover such things crash An insurance company that pays for hearing aids would have to pay for a cure if you have hearing loss. I mean in my country you can even get your hearing aid payed when you "only" have Tinnitus if the hearing aid can ease your T at least some people reached that in court.

 

[john paul]

post like these can literally cause me to have panic attacks and consider suicide.
I cannot go the rest of my life with comprised hearing only expected to get worse.

Im sorry mate i didnt mean to upset anyone, its just my pessimistic view of the world. I hope to god there is a cure too and it is only my opinion please dont let it influence you or take away the hope. We must have hope.

 

[Rings-a-Bell]

Don't be so USA centric. Any other country in the world can research something like this without waiting for the FDA. I nominate India. They are already good at making generic drug knockoffs....

 

[PolishSoldier87]

I'm gonna take a section of fresh pig's skull and take some containers with herbal ointments (I know some combinations of herbs that can get inside bones) and attach them to this skull and see if they can get inside and if yes, how long it will take to get thru it. If there are some positive results of this experiment, I will mix ointment with 7,8 dihydroxyflavone and put on my head to see how it affects my neuro problems.

 

[JohnAdams]

I'm gonna take a section of fresh pig's skull and take some containers with herbal ointments (I know some combinations of herbs that can get inside bones) and attach them to this skull and see if they can get inside and if yes, how long it will take to get thru it. If there are some positive results of this experiment, I will mix ointment with 7,8 dihydroxyflavone and put on my head to see how it affects my neuro problems.

I dont think it will work. A better approach would be to go to the ent and say you have glue ear, get tubes put in, and drop the stuff right in.

 

[PolishSoldier87]

But injecting this into middle ear won't work. That's the problem. It won't reach inner ear. Better approach would be to kick the ENT front-kick in his face.

 

[JohnAdams]

Why arent there any companies picking this up and moving into trials asap? Like yesterday? The rate of progress here really makes me want to just take matters into my own hands and do it myself.

 

[Contrast]

bumping this thread just because it has potential that everyone has forgot

 

[Johan_L]

From the article: "They are already planning the next phase involving animals and hearing loss."
https://news.usc.edu/140224/new-study-shows-hope-for-hearing-loss/

Even if there is not money to be made for big pharma, there are many nonprofit organisations and universities that should move things forward if there is a possibility for a cure. Right?

 

[JohnAdams]

I emailed Mr. Jeff Karp sometime ago and asked this:

"But I would like to ask you if your method will also repair/regenerate the auditory nerve/conections from nerve to haircell?"

Mr Jeff Karp responded:

"Thank you for the note - we have some evidence to suggest the answer to that question is yes - but only time will tell as we push things forward

with warm regards,
Jeff"

From the article: "They are already planning the next phase involving animals and hearing loss."
https://news.usc.edu/140224/new-study-shows-hope-for-hearing-loss/

Even if there is not money to be made for big pharma, there are many nonprofit organisations and universities that should move things forward if there is a possibility for a cure. Right?

as of now only big pharma can afford fda trials.

 

[Aaron91]

Bumping this thread, as it would appear they are still working on this method:



Skip to 34:22, which is where the relevant part of the video starts.

Charles McKenna says he's confident there will be a treatment for hearing loss, although it's not immediately apparent if he's confident about his own method or someone else's. He goes on to say it could be his team or perhaps someone else's. But the fact this video is so recent tells me that perhaps they have some kind of workaround to the patent/money incentive problem.

In any case, I think their method is fascinating, because the drug has the added benefit of not only apparently regenerating hair cells (by collaborating with another team), but it also allows for imaging the cochlea.