Nebraska Patent of the Month – June 2025
U.S. Patent No. 12324808, titled ‘Methods for the prevention and treatment of hearing loss’, introduces a new pharmaceutical strategy to protect hearing. The first claims focus on using clinically known drugs-Niclosamide, Ingenol, and Elesclomol-to prevent and treat hearing loss from chemotherapy, noise, and antibiotics. This breakthrough offers hope for millions at risk.
What the Patent Covers
The patent, granted to Ting Therapeutics Inc., outlines simple methods: administer a therapeutic dose of one of the three compounds to safeguard inner ear cells. These agents are selected for their known safety profiles and for demonstrating protection against inner ear hair‑cell death in animal models. The approach addresses a key medical need where no FDA‑approved treatments currently exist.
Why It Matters
This invention tackles hearing loss-a global public‑health issue. Roughly 40-60 percent of cancer patients treated with cisplatin suffer from permanent hearing damage. There are also no approved drugs to prevent hearing loss due to loud noise or aminoglycoside antibiotics. These three compounds, already studied for other uses, appear to act fast and effectively in early trials.
Real‑World Impact
If clinical trials validate the patent’s claims, patients could benefit from an affordable, repurposed therapy. These compounds may be administered orally or locally in the ear. Easy treatment regimens and ready‑made pharmaceutical kits could accelerate adoption. This strategy could change standards for hearing‑loss prevention in oncology, critical care, and occupational health.
What Comes Next
Ting Therapeutics Inc. will need to demonstrate safety and efficacy in human studies. Success could pave the way for repurposed drugs protecting millions from treatment‑induced or environmental hearing damage.
Learn More:
Are you developing new or improved products, or thinking of applying for a patent? Did you know your research work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please check out our free online eligibility test.
Feel free to book a quick teleconference with one of R&D Tax specialists if you would like to learn more about R&D Tax Credit opportunities.
Who We Are:
Swanson Reed is one of the largest Specialist R&D Tax Credit advisory firm in the United States. With offices nationwide, we are one of the only firms globally to exclusively provide R&D Tax Credit consulting services to our clients. We have been exclusively providing R&D Tax Credit claim preparation and audit compliance solutions for over 30 years.
Swanson Reed’s Nebraska office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, Grand Island, and Kearney.
Swanson Reed hosts daily free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please click here or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.
