Company Profile

Sound Pharmaceuticals Inc (AKA: Otogene USA Inc)
Profile last edited on: 9/27/2022      CAGE: 33QC1      UEI: S8Q8EVXYLSN1

Business Identifier: Therapies and preventative treatments for hearing loss
Year Founded
1998
First Award
1999
Latest Award
2003
Program Status
Inactive
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Location Information

4010 Stone Way North Suite 120
Seattle, WA 98103
Location: Single
Congr. District: 07
County: King

Public Profile

Sound Pharmaceuticals Inc - formerly known as Otogene USA Inc - is structured around development of biomedical therapeutic products designed to correct the underlying biological causes of hearing impairment and - ultimately - to enable doctors and patients to prevent and to treat hearing loss. Hearing loss is the third leading chronic disorder in the United States, exceeding the number of persons with either diabetes or visual loss combined. Otoprotection studies in animals have validated that the inner ear can be protected from the irreversible effects of noise damage by the systemic administration of pharmacologic agents or drugs. Sound Pharmaceuticls is ofcused on treating sensorineural hearing loss, or hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea and nerves that communicate between it and the brain. SPI-1005, a proprietary oral formulation of ebselen, is a small molecule mimic and inducer of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), the dominant catalytic antioxidant enzyme in the cochlea and critical for hearing health. GPx reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS) by binding free radicals to Selenium moiety by reacting with glutathione. Additionly, ebselen has been shown to reduce cytochrome-C release from mitochondria and nuclear damage during lipid peroxidation. Several classes of therapeutic Chemoprotection agents including cancer chemotherapy drugs and aminoglycoside antibiotics cause oxidative stress in the inner ear resulting in irreversible cell death. Chemotherapies (cisplatin, carboplatin) are well noted and studied for their ototoxicity. Hearing loss due to ototoxic medications presents at high frequencies initially and subsequently progresses to the lower frequencies. Impaired hearing as a result of ototoxicity can be temporary, but usually is permanent. Clinical symptoms of ototoxicity are associated with hearing loss, tinnitus, and difficulty understanding speech. The lead product candidate, SPI-3005, has been shown to protect against chemotherapy induced hearing loss and neurotoxicity in several animal studies. Significant Chemoprotection was achieved without interfering with the tumor activity of the cisplatin in rat and mouse tumor models. Finally, for those patients who already have substantial hearing loss, SPI is developing drugs aimed to restore hearing. SPI is currently optimizing compounds that antagonize specific cell cycle proteins resulting in new cell division or proliferation. These newly dividing cells have the capacity to become replacement auditory hair cells, supporting cells, and neurons.

Extent of SBIR involvement

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Synopsis: Awardee Business Condition

Employee Range
1-4
Revenue Range
Less than .5M
VC funded?
Yes
Public/Private
Privately Held
Stock Info
----
IP Holdings
10-14

Awards Distribution by Agency

Most Recent SBIR Projects

Year Phase Agency Total Amount
2003 1 NIH $160,000
Project Title: Cellular regeneration in the organ of Corti
2000 2 NIH $645,978
Project Title: Cell Cycle Regulators in Hair-Cell Regeneration

Key People / Management

  Jonathan Kil -- CEO & CMO

  Eric Lynch -- Founder, President; Director

  Bruce Beutler -- Scientific Advisor

  Lisa Lee -- Director Of Operations

  John Sullivan -- CFO

  G Michael Wall -- Vice President, Pharmaceutical Development