Sanofi and Audion agree hearing loss treatment alliance

Sanofi is to partner with Audion Therapeutics on the development of new treatment methods for patients suffering from hearing loss.

The two-year research collaboration will apply a regenerative medicine approach to the optimisation of small molecule drugs.

It will utilise technology developed by industry-leading experts at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in the Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, which has been licensed by Audion and will also be available to Sanofi under the terms of the agreement.

Dr Elias Zerhouni, president of global research and development at Sanofi, expressed confidence that this use of advanced innovations, combined with a multidisciplinary approach, will yield benefits.

"Our new relationship with Audion demonstrates our commitment to work with partners on conditions with unmet and growing medical needs, such as hearing loss," he said.

This comes after the firm agreed to partner with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative last month to develop new tropical illness treatments.