Hearing loss is a serious problem worldwide

• 48 million people in the U.S. have some degree hearing loss

• 278 million (2%) worldwide have disabling hearing loss

• 10-20% patients treated with aminoglycoside antibiotics develop hearing loss

• 60-80% treated with anti-cancer drug cisplatin develop hearing loss

• 60% recent U.S. war veterans suffer hearing loss

• 3:1000 children are born deaf or hard-of-hearing

• 50:1000 ICU babies have serious hearing loss

There is currently NO available drug that protects against any form of hearing loss

Hearing Loss and Balance Disorders Result from Damage to Hair Cells

• Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the inner ear used to detect sound and perceive bodily motion for balance.

• There is a direct relationship between hair cell loss and hearing loss and/or balance problems

• Humans start with only ~15,000 hair cells in each cochlea.

• When hair cells are lost due to mutation, disease, injury, or exposure to environmental toxins, they are not replaced.

Hair cells do not regenerate in mammals