In 2015, the Santa Maria lab discovered that HB-EGF could regenerate the tympanic membrane, a problem that causes hearing loss in hundreds of millions around the world. With support from the Stanford department of Otolaryngology, the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss, the Stanford SPARK program and the Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute translational studies were conducted at Stanford before Auration and Astellas partnered to develop it into the clinical trial where it is today. Stanford is now enrolling in the phase 1/2a study which is the first in human for this treatment. We're very proud to have seen this Stanford discovery mae it from the bench to the bedside and look forward to seeing the efficacy in patients and reducing the need for surgery.
