Our focus on treating
hearing disorders
Hearing loss and tinnitus are significant problems affecting tens of millions of people worldwide—and with our ever-noisier world and an aging population, the impact of these conditions is only expected to grow. At Otonomy, we focus on a broad set of hearing disorders where no FDA-approved drug treatments are currently available.

Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss
Imagine living with constant ringing, roaring, clicking or humming in one or both ears that makes it difficult to concentrate, relax and sleep. Yet no outside sound is actually present. This frustrating reality is life with tinnitus—a life experienced by about 10% of all U.S. adults.1
treatments for tinnitus.
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is a large and growing unmet medical need, typically a result of aging, noise damage or exposure to ototoxic drugs – all of which can damage cochlear hair cells, spiral ganglion neurons or the connection between these specialized cells in the inner ear. The most common complaint of patients seeking treatment for hearing loss is difficulty hearing in a noisy setting known as speech-in-noise hearing loss.
disabling hearing loss4
and higher rates of dementia and depression5
treatments for hearing loss.
Hearing Loss
While only 1% of all sensorineural hearing loss (hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear or related nerves) is due to genetic causes, these account for the majority of hearing loss diagnosed from birth to the age of language development.6 Most cases of genetic hearing loss are non-syndromic and the majority of these are due to an autosomal recessive gene defect. Replacing the defective gene with an operational one holds the promise for a permanent restoration of hearing in these patients.
undergo screening for hearing loss7
identified as causing sensorineural hearing
loss8
treatments for genetic hearing loss.
Hearing Loss
When treating cancer, side effects are expected. Most of the time these are short-term—but platinum-based chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin, can lead to permanent cisplatin-induced hearing loss (CIHL). Children are especially vulnerable to this debilitating adverse effect of their often life-saving treatment.
agents experience hearing loss9
academic performance, and socialization9,10
treatments for cisplatin-induced hearing loss.