SEATTLE, Nov. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/
Sound Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is honored to have Bruce A. Beutler, a recipient of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries involving the activation of innate immunity, join the company as a scientific advisor. Dr. Beutler is currently the Director of the Center for the Genetics of Host Defense at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. In addition, he has identified and characterized COMT2, a genetic mutation that leads to human deafness. “He is an expert in the molecular pathways and biology that are at the heart of our science, and is a tremendous addition to our Scientific Advisory Board,” said Jonathan Kil, MD, Chief Medical Officer. SPI has developed an orally delivered small molecule (SPI-1005) that is currently in mid-stage or Ph-II clinical trials for the prevention and treatment of noise induced hearing loss and chemotherapy induced ototoxicity and tinnitus. SPI found that the enzyme glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) is diminished in several critical cells and tissues in the cochlea of mammals immediately following noise exposure. SPI-1005 treatment increases the expression of GPx1 and is thought to allow these affected cells and tissues to repair themselves, thus restoring auditory function and preventing the irreversible loss of auditory hair cells and supporting cells. SPI is also developing a locally delivered drug for regenerating cells within the inner ear of mammals as a means to restore auditory function to the severely hearing impaired or deaf. By inhibiting p27Kip1, a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor or CKI, supporting cell and auditory hair cell regeneration is stimulated in adult mice and Guinea pigs that were previously exposed to intense noise or ototoxic drugs. This novel proliferative and regenerative ability is absent in adult mammals, resulting in permanent and often progressive sensorineural hearing loss. This novel CKI technology could be applied to other neurodegenerative diseases. Sound Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company with a focus on developing the first drugs for hearing loss and brain injury. For more information please visit http://www.soundpharma.comEric Lynch, PhD, President, Sound Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 4010 Stone Way N Suite 120, Seattle WA 98103 Office: 206-634-2559 elynch@soundpharma.com
SPI granted patent for prevention and treatment of side effects of chemotherapy
November 13th, 2012 SEATTLE, WA—Sound Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (SPI) announced that its patent “Methods and compositions for ameliorating the undesirable effects of chemotherapy” has been issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. SPI is developing oral drugs to prevent and treat hearing loss and tinnitus. SPI is now entering into Phase II clinical trials with Veterans undergoing chemotherapy for solid tumors to prevent and treat ototoxicity due to chemotherapy. This new patent extends SPI’s intellectual property surrounding our drug development into kidney and bone marrow protection. Ototoxicity means toxicity to the otologic system or ear. Symptoms of ototoxicity include hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), vertigo, or dizziness either alone or in combination. Among the commonly cited ototoxic drugs, platinum containing chemotherapeutics, aminoglycoside antibiotics and loop diuretics, are among the most ototoxic. Even some common over the counter drugs such as aspirin can have ototoxic effects. While platinum based chemotherapy is an effective treatment for a number of different solid tumors such as lung, head and neck, ovarian, breast and prostate cancer, its side-effects can lead to unacceptable toxicities including permanent sensorineural hearing loss. Audiologic studies in patients receiving cisplatin and/or carboplatin indicate that up to 90% will experience significant high frequency hearing loss and that these changes are irreversible and progressive. Long-term follow-up studies in pediatric patients have demonstrated that hearing loss associated with cisplatin exposure continues to worsen over time. Hearing loss at an early age risks a potential impact on speech/language development. In adults, the interaction of chemotherapeutics with other auditory degenerative processes such as noise-induced hearing loss or aging can exacerbate the level of permanent disability in the low frequency hearing range. The lack of effective chemoprotectants to prevent platinum induced ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity or myelosuppression underscores the importance of addressing this unmet medical need. At present, no products are approved for the reduction of chemotherapy-induced ototoxicity. Sound Pharmaceuticals is working to meet this medical need. For more information please visit http://www.soundpharma.comEric Lynch, PhD, President , Sound Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 4010 Stone Way N Suite 120, Seattle WA 98103 Office: 206-634-2559 elynch@soundpharma.com
