Just recently found out about the results from FX-322's Phase 2a clinical trial. I'm quite disheartened but I can't say I'm surprised as I previously had serious doubt and critical view of the FX-322 model.
If we all just disconnect from our bias and look at it from an engineering and mechanical point of view, regenerating cochlear hair cells alone is not the answer. You also need to have functional neuronal connections. Analogous to this is, you can't just reattach an arm and expect full recovery. Many times the nerves don't reattach. Similarly, you can't just expect renewed cochlear hair cells will reattach neuronally either.
As for our ears, I don't believe that simply regenerating cochlear hair cells is the solution but it is a significant discovery. The issue is if those hair cells can correctly reattach back to the central nervous system, to the auditory nerve. If not, then the regenerated cochlear hair cells are defective structures.
As some have previously pointed out that the "founder" of Frequency Therapeutics (serious conflict of interest here) says the regenerated hair cells do reattach back but their animals study data did not show this. The study mentioned neuronal growth but did not show if it actually connected back to the main nerve. If it did, then I'm sure they would have shown it in their research paper because this is as significant as regenerating cochlear hair cells.
The hair cell regeneration from their animal studies is strong (although I think independent scientific verification will nail this debate). But, I think the next key development is making further research into correct cochlear hair cell reconnections and I hope Frequency Therapeutics can survive financially to do further research.
Additionally, of course, there are opinions out there that says hearing loss isn't all that related to damaged ear structures but is related to our CNS rewiring and the loss of ability to process auditory signals. That is a possibility for a subset of hearing issues but FX-323 model is not targeting that so having doubts in this train of thought leads to nowhere.
Anyway, I hope you're all doing well or as well as we can be with tinnitus.