Description

Decibel Therapeutics, Inc. (DBTX) is a clinical-stage biotechnology firm dedicated to pioneering innovative therapies for a range of hearing and balance impairments. Their research and development efforts are concentrated across three primary therapeutic avenues: 1. Gene Therapies for Congenital, Monogenic Hearing Loss: These programs aim to re-establish functional cellular activity within the cochlea, thereby counteracting hearing deficiencies stemming from single gene mutations. 2. Gene Therapies for Hair Cell Regeneration: This pipeline focuses on replenishing lost hair cells in the inner ear to alleviate acquired hearing and balance conditions. 3. Otoprotection Therapeutic: Currently in clinical development, this therapeutic is designed to safeguard cancer patients from hearing loss induced by cisplatin chemotherapy. A flagship gene therapy candidate, DB-OTO, is being developed to restore auditory function in individuals suffering from profound hearing loss linked to mutations in the otoferlin gene. The company is also advancing several other programs, including DB-ATO and AAV.201, gene therapies intended to regenerate lost vestibular hair cells and thus re-establish balance in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy. DB-020 is undergoing Phase 1b clinical trials for the prevention of hearing loss caused by cisplatin. Further gene therapies in development include AAV.103 for individuals with a gap junction beta-2 (GJB2) deficiency, AAV.104 for those with a stereocilin (STRC) deficiency, and a cochlear hair cell regeneration program that employs AAV-based gene therapy to convert supporting cells into functional outer hair cells using cell-selective reprogramming factors. Decibel Therapeutics maintains a strategic alliance with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., specifically for co-developing gene therapies addressing monogenic forms of inherited hearing loss. Established in 2013 and initially known as Hearing Inc., the company rebranded as Decibel Therapeutics, Inc. in April 2014. Its operations are headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.