In Vivo Drug Discovery Assay for Otoprotective Compounds

Introduction A number of commonly used drugs are known to kill hair cells in the mammalian inner ear and cause dose-dependent sensorineural hearing loss. Most notably, aminoglycoside antibiotics and platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents are known to cause irreversible hearing damage. While these drugs are clinically effective, their use is limited by this adverse effect and, as such, there is a need for the identification of compounds which could prevent or reduce the amount of hearing loss induced. Technology description Researchers at the UW have developed an in vivo drug discovery assay for identifying compounds that can prevent or reduce toxin mediated sensory hair cell death. The relative inaccessibility of hair cells in mammalian organisms limits their use as a high throughput model for identifying compounds that would prevent toxin mediated and other forms of hair cell death from occurring. In zebrafish, however, the lateral line hair cells, which are structurally and functionally similar to mammalian sensory hair cells, are easily accessible. The optical clarity of zebrafish and the ability of hair cells to take up nuclear and cytoplasmic vital dyes to track hair cell viability make zebrafish an ideal model organism for in vivo high throughput screening to identify compounds that can prevent hair cell damage or death from occurring. To date, two structurally related small molecules have been identified as protective against the toxic effects of aminoglycosides on hair cells using this approach. The assay can also be used to screen for ototoxic side effects. Business opportunity In the U.S, over 2,000,000 people receive treatment with aminoglycosides per year. The clinical efficacy of these drugs in treating resistant bacterial infections and their low cost globally account for their continued use and need. Cisplatin, a chemotherapeutic agent, is also used for its benefit to life despite its toxic effects on the hair cells of the inner ear. Other clinically important and commonly used drugs also have documented ototoxic effects, including loop diuretics, antimalarial drugs, salicylates, and interferon polypeptides. The dosing and administration of these drugs are controlled events and concomitant administration of drugs that could prevent hearing loss from occurring would be valuable. Intellectual property position The UW has applied for patent protection to secure the rights to this technology.

Type of Offer: Licensing



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