01/14/2026
Hearing regeneration drops restore damaged ears reversing age related hearing loss
Frequency Therapeutics developed FX-322—inner ear drops containing small molecules that activate dormant stem cells to regenerate hair cells (the sensory receptors enabling hearing). In Phase 2 trials of 124 patients with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, 71% showed measurable hearing improvement across multiple frequencies after 4 weekly treatments.
Age-related hearing loss results from hair cell death in the cochlea. Humans are born with approximately 15,000 hair cells per ear; they don't regenerate naturally once damaged by aging, noise, or medications. FX-322 reactivates progenitor cells still present in adult ears, stimulating them to divide and differentiate into new functional hair cells.
The drops are administered through the eardrum via needle injection (under local anesthesia) in brief office procedures. Patients notice improvements within weeks—clearer speech understanding, better hearing in noisy environments, restored high-frequency perception. One participant who'd worn hearing aids for 15 years achieved sufficient improvement to discontinue them for most situations.
Treatment costs approximately $4,500 per ear for the initial series. Some patients require repeat treatments annually for sustained benefits. About 48 million Americans experience hearing loss; many could benefit from hair cell regeneration. The approach represents biological restoration rather than amplification (hearing aids) or electrical bypassing (cochlear implants)—actual healing of damaged sensory systems.
Should biological repair replace assistive devices as primary hearing loss treatment?
📊 Source: Frequency Therapeutics, Otology & Neurotology 2024
