Gene Therapy Restores Hearing in Patients with Genetic Deafness
A groundbreaking gene therapy offers new hope for individuals suffering from genetic deafness. A study in China involving ten patients with hearing loss caused by mutations in the OTOF gene demonstrated significant hearing improvement after a single injection of a functional OTOF gene into the inner ear. Most patients experienced some hearing recovery within a month, with substantial improvement observed after six months. Younger patients (ages 5-8) showed the best response, but adults also benefited. The therapy proved safe and well-tolerated, with no serious adverse effects reported. Researchers plan to expand this approach to other genes associated with deafness, promising a potential cure for various forms of genetic hearing loss.
Read more