5 children with inherited deafness regained hearing in a Shanghai gene therapy trial targeting OTOF gene mutations.

Children with inherited deafness have regained their hearing in a world-first gene therapy trial in Shanghai, China. Five children treated in both ears demonstrated significant improvements, including better speech perception and the ability to localize sound sources. The groundbreaking therapy targets mutations in the OTOF gene and is the first to provide gene therapy for this form of inherited deafness in both ears. Researchers hope to expand the work internationally.