Charity Highlights need for new treatments for hearing loss and tinnitus

Action on Hearing Loss, the UK’s largest hearing loss charity exhibited at the global 2012 Bio International Convention to highlight the need for further investment into research to protect and restore hearing and silence tinnitus.

Over 15,000 delegates from around the world representing pharmaceutical, biotechnology and investors, attended the event held recently in Boston US.

The charity highlighted the commercial opportunities and benefits that exist using Action on Hearing Loss market research reports, helping companies to understand how their technologies and expertise could be used to find treatments for hearing loss and tinnitus.

Action on Hearing Loss held 27 meetings with companies and acted as a matchmaker to bring key players in the industry together to understand the importance and commercial opportunities available in developing new treatments.

Dr Ralph Holme, Action on Hearing Loss Head of Biomedical Research, said: “There has never been so much interest around hearing loss. I really think we are on the cusp of seeing the pharmaceutical industry make a significant change and become seriously involved in the development of treatments for hearing loss and tinnitus.

“Many of the large pharmaceutical companies we spoke to have all reached the conclusion that the field is now mature enough for them to start work on hearing loss and are actively exploring ways to do so. Our job is to now make it as easy as possible for them to invest in the best approaches to protecting and restoring hearing, and silencing tinnitus.”

For information about Action on Hearing Loss visit: www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/biomedicalresearch