title: Recent advances in therapeutics and drug delivery for the treatment of inner ear diseases: a patent review (2011-2015).
abstract: Inner ear disorders such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and Ménière's disease significantly impact the quality of life of affected individuals. Treatment of such disorders is an ongoing challenge. Current clinical approaches relieve symptoms but do not fully restore hearing, and the search for more effective therapeutic methods represents an area of urgent current interest. Areas covered: Thirty four patents and patent applications published from 2011 to 2015 were selected from the database of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), covering new approaches for the treatment of inner ear disorders described in the patent literature: 1) identification of new therapeutic agents, 2) development of sustained release formulations, and 3) medical devices that facilitate delivery of such agents to the inner ear. Expert opinion: The search for effective treatments of inner ear disorders is ongoing. Increased understanding of the molecular mechanisms of hearing loss, Ménière's disease, and tinnitus is driving development of new therapeutic agents. However, delivery of these agents to the inner ear is a continuing challenge. At present, combination of a suitable drug with an appropriate mode of drug delivery is the key focus of innovative research to cure inner ear disorders.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemistry , University of Southern California , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: b Department of Otolaryngology , Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary , Boston , MA , USA.|c Eaton Peabody Laboratory , Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary , Boston , MA , USA.|d Department of Otology and Laryngology , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Judith S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kempfle
authors.affiliation: b Department of Otolaryngology , Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary , Boston , MA , USA.|c Eaton Peabody Laboratory , Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary , Boston , MA , USA.|d Department of Otology and Laryngology , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemistry , University of Southern California , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: McKenna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D010330:Patents as Topic; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011788:Quality of Life; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: Hearing loss; Ménière’s disease; hair cell protection; hair cell regeneration; inner ear disorders; local drug delivery; ototoxicity; sustained drug delivery; tinnitus