Recent advances in therapeutics and drug delivery for the treatment of inner ear diseases: a patent review (2011-2015)

Abstract

Inner ear disorders such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and Ménière's disease significantly impact the quality of life of affected individuals. Treatment of such disorders is an ongoing challenge. Current clinical approaches relieve symptoms but do not fully restore hearing, and the search for more effective therapeutic methods represents an area of urgent current interest. Areas covered: Thirty four patents and patent applications published from 2011 to 2015 were selected from the database of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), covering new approaches for the treatment of inner ear disorders described in the patent literature: 1) identification of new therapeutic agents, 2) development of sustained release formulations, and 3) medical devices that facilitate delivery of such agents to the inner ear. Expert opinion: The search for effective treatments of inner ear disorders is ongoing. Increased understanding of the molecular mechanisms of hearing loss, Ménière's disease, and tinnitus is driving development of new therapeutic agents. However, delivery of these agents to the inner ear is a continuing challenge. At present, combination of a suitable drug with an appropriate mode of drug delivery is the key focus of innovative research to cure inner ear disorders.

Bisphosphonate-Linked TrkB Agonist: Cochlea-Targeted Delivery of a Neurotrophic Agent as a Strategy for the Treatment of Hearing Loss

“…The delivery of drugs to the inner ear presents unique opportunities and challenges. 46 Systemic administration may be relatively straightforward but has the potential for greater systemic side effects and decreased concentration within the inner ear following delivery. Local delivery to the cochlea across the RWM via intratympanic injection is common in outpatient clinical use in humans for the treatment of sudden hearing loss and Meniere's disease, although it remains unclear if the drugs administered in such treatments are uniquely able to cross the oval and round windows into the inner ear.…”

Stem Cell Based Drug Delivery for Protection of Auditory Neurons in a Guinea Pig Model of Cochlear Implantation

“…However, neurotrophic therapies may require ongoing administration if a lifelong survival effect is to be achieved in human patients (Gillespie et al, 2003; Gillespie and Shepherd, 2005). Various systems delivering neurotrophins and other drugs locally to the inner ear are under investigation (El Kechai et al, 2015; Nguyen et al, 2017; Mäder et al, 2018; Hao and Li, 2019). For human use, however, most approaches – if intended for continuous application – are not practicable due to the fact that the application has to be repeated [single injection via needle or catheter-based (Prenzler et al, 2018)], or the device or matrix has to be refilled periodically [osmotic pumps (Brown et al, 1993), or intratympanic hydrogels applied to the round window (Wang et al, 2011)].…”

Ototoxicidad inducida por quimio-radioterapia basada en platinos: Una revisión

“…Considerando la potencial interferencia entre tera pias sistémicas con la efectividad oncológica de la QRT, es que se han propuesto estrategias de administración local de sustancias en el oído con el fin de reducir la hipoacusia posterior a los tratamientos oncológicos. Esto se basaría en la potencial difusión de drogas desde el oído medio al interno a través de la ventana redonda, lo que ha mostrado un posible rol en el tratamiento de algunas enfermedades del oído interno como la enfermedad de Ménière y la HSN súbita 58,59 . En un estudio piloto en 20 pacientes con cánceres de CyC con indicación de cisplatino, el uso de infusión transtimpánica de NAC al 10% en un oído antes de la infusión de cisplatino en cada ciclo mostró reducir el cambio en umbrales auditivos al final de los ciclos 60 .…”