Calcineurin inhibitors of the setron family for the treatment of hearing loss
Disclosed is an inhibitor of calcineurin of the setron family for use for treating hearing loss in a subject in need thereof.
1 . A method for preventing hearing loss in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject an inhibitor of calcineurin of the setron family selected from azasetron, ondansetron and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof,
wherein administration of the inhibitor of calcineurin of the setron family is started prior to the onset of the hearing loss to be prevented.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor of calcineurin of the setron family is azasetron or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss.
4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein said sensorineural hearing loss is noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss, age-related sensorineural hearing loss, ototoxic drug-induced sensorineural hearing loss, or idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss.
5 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein said sensorineural hearing loss is noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss or age-related sensorineural hearing loss.
6 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein said sensorineural hearing loss is ototoxic drug-induced sensorineural hearing loss.
7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the ototoxic drug inducing sensorineural hearing loss is selected from the group consisting of aminoglycosides, chemotherapeutic agents, loop diuretics, antimetabolites and salicylates.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said hearing loss is a decrease in hearing of at least about 20 dB over at least three contiguous frequencies.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said hearing loss is total deafness.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said hearing loss is unilateral or bilateral.
11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said hearing loss is sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor of calcineurin of the setron family is systemically administered, topically administered, or intra-tympanically injected.
13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor of calcineurin of the setron family is administered 1 to 3 times a day.
14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor of calcineurin of the setron family is administered for at least 30 days.
15 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein administration of the inhibitor of calcineurin of the setron family is started prior to the exposure to a noise or agent that may cause sensorineural hearing loss.
16 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein said sensorineural hearing loss is noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss and wherein administration of the inhibitor of calcineurin of the setron family is started prior to the exposure to a noise that may cause the noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss.
17 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein said sensorineural hearing loss is ototoxic drug-induced sensorineural hearing loss and wherein administration of the inhibitor of calcineurin of the setron family is started prior to the exposure to an agent that may cause the ototoxic drug-induced sensorineural hearing loss.