Benzinga | Feb 24, 2021 01:52PM EST

Decibel Therapeutics' Hearing Loss Gene Therapy Shows Potential In Preclinical Studies

* Decibel Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: DBTX) presented preclinical data of its gene therapy candidate, DB-OTO, for hearing loss due to mutation of the otoferlin gene.

* Decibel presented the data at the Annual MidWinter Meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology.

* DB-OTO is delivered via surgical procedure during a standard cochlear implantation procedure.

* Studies highlighted successful distribution and expression across the cochlear length, as well as well tolerated.

* Data suggested hair cell-selective expression of otoferlin may enable greater efficacy and durability and minimize potential toxicity.

* The therapy also demonstrated that DB-OTO restored normal hearing sensitivity in animal models of otoferlin deficiency.

* Decibel is developing DB-OTO in collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: REGN) and expects to submit an Investigational New Drug/Clinical Trial Application for human trials in 2022.

* Price Action: DBTX increased 4.94% at $18.90, and REGN is down 1.072% at $463.03 in market trading hours on the last check Wednesday.