Therapeutics for Hearing Preservation and Improvement of Patient Outcomes in Cochlear Implantation – Progress and Possibilities

The emergence of therapeutics targeted at hearing loss holds great promise in the development of novel treatments for this heterogenous condition. Whilst such therapeutics are largely designed to be effica-cious in and of themselves, the possibility of combination with devices, namely cochlear implants, could result in much more effective treatment options. Here, we review the otoprotective molecules currently in clinical development, as well as generic steroids, discussing mechanisms of action and mode of delivery to the perilymph of the cochlea. Presenting both preclinical and clinical data , we explore the challenges these molecules face in reaching the inner ear. Furthermore, we consider the role of the cochlear im-plant as a drug delivery platform along with the ability of these drugs to preserve residual hearing and improve outcomes in implant recipients.(c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)