Developing a new treatment to protect hearing from certain antibiotics

ANALYTICAL METHOD DEVELOPMENT, VALIDATION AND STABILITY STUDY OF ORC-13661

NIH-funded research Midwest Research Institute · NIH-10972995

This study is testing a new drug called ORC-13661 to see if it can help protect your hearing and balance while you take certain antibiotics that can sometimes cause damage to your inner ear. If it works, it could make it safer for you to use these antibiotics when you need them for serious infections.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMidwest Research Institute NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Kansas City, United States)
Project IDNIH-10972995 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a new drug, ORC-13661, which aims to protect inner ear hair cells from damage caused by aminoglycoside antibiotics (AGs). These antibiotics are effective against serious infections but can lead to hearing loss and balance issues due to their toxic effects on the inner ear. The study will involve validating the effectiveness of ORC-13661 in preventing these side effects, potentially allowing for safer use of AGs in patients. Patients may benefit from this research if the new treatment proves successful in preserving their hearing and balance while receiving necessary antibiotic therapy.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients who require aminoglycoside antibiotics for serious infections and are at risk of ototoxicity.

Not a fit: Patients who do not require aminoglycoside antibiotics or have pre-existing conditions that prevent them from using these antibiotics may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could allow patients to receive effective antibiotic treatment without the risk of hearing loss or balance issues.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of developing protective therapies against antibiotic-induced ototoxicity is promising, it is still relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in clinical settings.

Where this research is happening

Kansas City, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.