Oklahoma City Research Institute Develops Drug That Could Help Relieve Tinnitus

An Oklahoma City research institute is working on a solution for those who hear constant ringing in their ears.

The Hough Ear Institute is a non-profit research institute that partners with the Oklahoma City Innovation District. Their focus is hearing loss, and their goal is to restore hearing for people around the globe. 

Tinnitus impacts an estimated 80,000 Oklahomans and 50 million Americans, according to the research institute.

"It's the phantom perception of a sound when there is really no sound in your environment."

For some living with tinnitus, everyday tasks are a struggle,” said Chief Operations Officer of Hough Ear Institute Matthew West. "It can lead to insomnia and loss of focus."

The Hough Ear Institute has developed a drug they believe can provide relief. The pill they have developed is called NHPN-1010, and they hope it can help those dealing with tinnitus.

"It regrows nerve endings that allows the volume basically to be turned back down so the brain doesn't have to work as hard and as a result it restores a healthy balance in the input output and allows the damage to potentially be reversible," West said.

They have gotten the drug to the point where they know it’s safe for human consumption.

"Now it is going to the phase where it is known to be efficacious for its purpose,” West said.

They will pass their discovery on to a commercial pharmaceutical company to carry it through the rest of the process. They said this is not an easy task because anyone who agrees to fund NHPN-1010’s clinical development is agreeing to an almost $500 million investment in a single, first-in-class drug for this indication.

"We don't actually do the pitching because we are a non-profit," West said. A non-profit making a huge difference. "It can impact quality of life as a result, able to focus, able to be more engaged in conversations."

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