DB-OTO Results in the New England Journal of Medicine Showcase Dramatic and Sustained Improvements in Hearing and Speech Perception in Children with Profound Genetic Hearing Loss

Nearly all participants (11 of 12) experienced clinically meaningful hearing improvements, including three who achieved normal hearing; eight with longer follow-up showed stability or continued improvement in their hearing

Among three who completed speech assessments, all showed significant improvement with one able to identify one- and two-syllable words with no visual cues and respond to distant sounds and speech in noisy environments

Latest DB-OTO data presented at AAO-HNSF; U.S. regulatory submission planned later this year, pending discussions with the FDA

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Oct. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) today announced updated data for their investigational gene therapy DB-OTO for profound genetic hearing loss due to variants of the otoferlin (OTOF) gene were in The New England Journal of Medicine and presented during an oral presentation at the annual American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNSF) meeting. These latest results from the pivotal CHORD trial show 11 out of 12 participants have experienced clinically meaningful hearing improvements, including 3 who achieved normal hearing levels. Additionally, eight participants with longer follow-up showed stability or continued improvement in their hearing, and among three who completed speech assessments, all showed significant improvement.

“Until now, genetic OTOF-related hearing loss was considered permanent, which is why many of us have dedicated our careers to this field,” said Lawrence R. Lustig, M.D., Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and a trial investigator. “This registrational data set showcases consistent, rapid and robust responses to DB-OTO, and for those followed to later timepoints, we’ve seen hearing stability as well as continued improvement in understanding of speech. These results are even more poignant when viewed by the families – as one of the parents said, their situation is now ‘unimaginable’ from one year ago. This truly represents a new era in the treatment of hearing loss.”

The CHORD trial evaluated pediatric participants with profound hearing loss due to variants of the OTOF gene that received a single administration of DB-OTO via intracochlear infusion. Among 12 participants (aged 10 months to 16 years), nine received the gene therapy unilaterally (in one ear) and three received it bilaterally (in both ears). The surgical procedure to administer DB-OTO leverages an approach similar to cochlear implantation, which enables use in young infants.

Nearly all participants (11 of 12; 14 of 15 treated ears) demonstrated improved hearing, responding within weeks of treatment. As published and presented, the trial met the primary endpoint with 9 participants experiencing hearing improvements at a threshold of ≤70 decibel hearing level (dBHL) as assessed by behavioral pure tone audiometry (PTA) at week 24. This threshold corresponds to a clinical standard that typically does not require cochlear implantation and enables natural acoustic hearing. Notably, 6 could hear soft speech without assistive devices, and 3 were further able to detect whispers (achieving normal hearing sensitivity). One participant who did not meet the primary PTA endpoint at week 24 further improved to achieve “nearly normal” hearing sensitivity at week 48. Nine participants also demonstrated an auditory brainstem response (ABR) at ≤90 decibels (dB), achieving the trial’s key secondary endpoint.

Hearing improvements remained stable or continued to improve in 8 participants who had follow-up visits of ≥36 weeks (up to 72 weeks). Speech development was also assessed in the 3 participants who were followed at least 48 weeks and all showed significant improvements. One of these participants demonstrated the ability to identify one- and two-syllable words with no visual cues and could respond to distant sounds and speech in noisy environments.

Across all 12 participants, both the surgical procedure and DB-OTO were well tolerated, and there were no DB-OTO-related adverse findings reported. Two participants experienced serious adverse events: one was attributed to a cochlear implant surgical complication and the other to a recent vaccination. Some participants experienced transient post-surgical vestibular adverse events (e.g., nystagmus, nausea, dizziness, vomiting), all of which fully resolved.

The U.S. regulatory application for DB-OTO is planned for later this year, pending discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). DB-OTO received Orphan Drug, Rare Pediatric Disease, Fast Track and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designations from the FDA. The European Medicines Agency also granted Orphan Drug Designation.

The potential use of DB-OTO for OTOF-related hearing loss is currently under clinical investigation, and its safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.

About OTOF-related Hearing Loss

Permanent congenital hearing loss (present at birth) is a significant unmet medical need that affects approximately 1.7 out of every 1,000 children born in the U.S. and approximately half of these cases have genetic causes. Notably, otoferlin-related hearing loss is ultra-rare, affecting 20-50 newborns per year in the U.S. This specific condition is caused by variants in the OTOF gene, which lead to a lack of a functional otoferlin protein that is critical for the communication between the sensory cells of the inner ear and the auditory nerve.

About the CHORD Trial

The  is a registrational Phase 1/2 multicenter, open-label trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of DB-OTO in infants, children and adolescents with OTOF-related hearing loss. The trial is currently enrolling children (<18 years of age) across sites in the U.S., United Kingdom, Spain and Germany.

CHORD is being conducted in two parts. In the initial dose-escalation cohort (Part A), participants receive a single intracochlear infusion of DB-OTO in one ear. In the expansion cohort (Part B), participants receive DB-OTO in both ears at the selected dose from Part A.

Hearing improvements were assessed by PTA and ABR. PTA is the gold standard measurement of hearing sensitivity and is measured through behavioral responses to sound (e.g., turning head towards sound) that is emitted at different intensity levels and measured in dB. ABR corroborates these behavioral responses, serving as an objective confirmation of hearing function, and is measured through recording electrical brainstem responses to sound emitted at different intensity levels measured in dBs. At baseline, all participants had profound hearing loss (behavioral PTA), and no electrophysiological (ABR) responses at maximum sound levels.

Additional information about the trial, including enrollment, can be obtained by contacting .

About DB-OTO and the Regeneron Auditory Program

DB-OTO is an investigational cell-selective, dual adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector gene therapy designed to provide durable, physiological hearing to individuals with profound, congenital hearing loss caused by variants of the OTOF gene. The treatment aims to deliver a working copy of the OTOF gene to replace the non-functional otoferlin protein using a modified, non-pathogenic virus that is delivered via an infusion into the cochlea under general anesthesia (similar to the procedure used for cochlear implantation). In this gene therapy, the newly introduced OTOF gene is under the control of a proprietary cell-specific Myo15 promoter, which is intended to restrict expression only to hair cells that normally express otoferlin.

In addition to OTOF, Regeneron is committed to investigating several other targets for genetic forms of hearing loss.

About Regeneron

Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents, develops and commercializes life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to numerous approved treatments and product candidates in development, most of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, hematologic conditions, infectious diseases, and rare diseases.

Regeneron pushes the boundaries of scientific discovery and accelerates drug development using our proprietary technologies, such as VelociSuite^®, which produces optimized fully human antibodies and new classes of bispecific antibodies. We are shaping the next frontier of medicine with data-powered insights from the Regeneron Genetics Center^® and pioneering genetic medicine platforms, enabling us to identify innovative targets and complementary approaches to potentially treat or cure diseases.

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