A groundbreaking gene therapy successfully restored hearing function in five children with inherited deafness by treating both ears simultaneously. The children also showed improved speech perception, sound localization, and the ability to appreciate music. This bilateral gene therapy, the first of its kind for this type of deafness, was administered by injecting a functioning OTOF gene into the inner ears of patients in a minimally invasive procedure. The trial, led by researchers in China and the U.S., demonstrated significant benefits and potential for future treatments for genetic hearing loss. Further studies and refinements are needed to expand this promising therapeutic approach.
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Gene therapy trial restores hearing in both ears of children who were born deaf
