French SME providing auditory preclinical efficacy and safety studies is looking for services agreement with life-sciences industries to accelerate the development of novel therapies

The French SME is a preclinical provider in otology, uniquely qualified in the functions of the ear, a complex sensory organ which remains under-explored. Established in France, US & Denmark, the company has state-of-the art laboratories, research experts in otology and neurosciences, as well as a global network of partners.The company started operating in 2014 and is born to accelerate R&D in hearing disorders. 15% of the world adult population has some degree of hearing loss, reaching one out of three people aged over 65. The prevalence is dramatically increasing worldwide and the World Health Organization forecasts that nearly 1 billion people will have some disabling hearing loss in 2050. Aging populations, excessive noise exposure, ototoxic drug intake and chronic ear infections are the main risk factors driving this global health concern. The company core value is built on the existence of a unique laboratory platform with innovative and validated pharmacological models reducing time to proof of concept. Its additional value comes from the large industrial background of the team and its capacity to drive drug development strategy from research to market authorizations, including writing of international development plans and regulatory documents. The company supports research & development of drugs, medical devices, gene & cell therapies and offer the following services to pharmaceutical & nutraceutical industries, biotech, medtech, and academics: Preclinical efficacy and safety studies: • In vitro screening on otic cell lines • Ex vivo studies on cochlear explants • Pharmacokinetics studies with perilymph samplings, systemic and local administration • In vivo efficacy studies in validated animal models (rodents or large animals): age-related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, drug-induced ototoxicity, salicylate-induced tinnitus, noise-induced tinnitus, otitis • Tolerance studies to check safety of compounds on the inner ear • GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) compliant ototoxicity studies in rodents and large species Read-outs: • ABR (Auditory Brainstem Responses), wave I analysis • DPOAE (Distortion Product OtoAcoustic Emissions) • GPIAS (Gap Prepulse Inhibition of Acoustic Startle Reflex) to detect tinnitus • Histology with Cochleogram, ribbon synapses and SGN (Spiral Ganglion Neurons) count • Scanning Electron Microscopy, Imaging, electrophysiology The company offers also auditory non-clinical safety studies related to the sanitary crisis as multiple drugs currently tested for Covid-19 are on the list of the ototoxic agents. Their intake may be associated to hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders. The SME is the world leading contract research organization dedicated to ear disorders and has performed more than 160 studies for more than 60 clients worldwide, mainly for North America, Europe, Japan, and South Korea. To further extend its development, the company is looking for services agreements to continue its mission of accelerating R&D of novel therapies to prevent and treat hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis.