Gene Therapy in China Restores Hearing in Five Deaf Children

Jun 5, 2024, 09:20 AM

A pioneering gene therapy trial in China has successfully restored hearing in both ears of children who were born deaf. The trial, which involved five children, provided a normal copy of a mutated gene, specifically targeting a condition called DFNB9 caused by Otof mutations. This condition accounts for 2-8% of all congenital hearing loss. As a result of the therapy, the children can now listen and dance to music. The study was published in Nature Medicine and The Lancet.