New Drug Restores Hearing After Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Researchers in New Zealand published a research paper where they describe significant restoration of hearing after hearing loss sustained after loud noise exposure with injection of a drug called 'ADAC'... at least in rats.

The drug (adenosine amine congener) activates adenosine receptors in cochlear tissues resulting in recovery of cochlear function. Early treatment starting six hours after noise exposure was the most effective and provided greater recovery than late treatment starting 24 hours after noise exposure.

This drug may potentially lead to new drugs to help humans with hearing loss sustained after loud-noise exposure.

Read the abstract of the research paper here.

Reference:
Srdjan M. Vlajkovic, Kyu-Hyun Lee, Ann Chi Yan Wong, Cindy X. Guo, Rita Gupta, Gary D. Housley, Peter R. Thorne. Adenosine amine congener mitigates noise-induced cochlear injury. Purinergic Signalling, 2010; DOI: 10.1007/s11302-010-9188-5