OSAKA, Japan, December 23, 2025 – Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka, Japan; Chief Executive Officer: Isao Teshirogi, Ph.D.; hereafter “Shionogi”) announced the conclusion of a joint research & development agreement and investment agreement with Salubritas Therapeutics (Head Office: Massachusetts, USA; Chief Executive Officer: En Li, Ph.D.; hereafter “Salubritas”) aimed at demonstrating improvement in hearing function
through sensory hair cell regeneration in the inner ear and creating innovative pharmaceuticals.
Under this agreement, the two companies will promote joint research & development aimed at prevention and treatment of hearing loss through hair cell regeneration. The regeneration of hair cell is considered one of the effective intervention methods for fundamentally treating sensorineural hearing loss. However, there have been no successful clinical trials, and drug discovery is regarded as extremely difficult. To address this issue, we will collaborate with Salubritas, which has cutting-edge research knowledge and technological capabilities in hair cell regeneration, to create a therapeutic drug that regenerates hair cells and improves hearing function.
Hearing loss is a serious health issue affecting an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide. The number of patients continues to rise, and it is predicted that a quarter of the world’s population will experience some form of hearing impairment by 2050.1,2 Among these, damage and loss of hair cells correlates with the severity of hearing loss and is one of the main causes of moderate to severe hearing loss.3 However, at present, with no effective treatments other than hearing aids and cochlear implants, hair cell regeneration is expected to offer a new option for improving hearing loss.
Shionogi has identified “Contributing to a Healthy and Prosperous Life” as a material focus. We are committed to creating a society where everyone can lead a longer, more vibrant life, realizing their goals. Shionogi continues to strive to deliver innovative treatments for diseases with high unmet medical needs, including hearing loss, to patients as quickly as possible.
About Salubritas
Salubritas is a biotechnology company founded in 2021 to develop treatments for hearing loss through sensory hair cell regeneration. Dr. Zheng-Yi Chen, a co-founder of Salubritas and Associate Professor of Mass Eye and Ear (MEE) and Harvard Medical School, became the first in the world to successfully differentiate and induce hair cells from somatic cells in adult animals without the use of pluripotent stem cells4. The company is pioneering regenerative therapies with the goal of developing a treatment that regenerates functional hair cells to improve hearing function. It also maintains a network with Massachusetts Eye and Ear, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School in the United States and a global leader in otology and inner ear disease research, enabling close collaboration with some of the world’s most distinguished scientists and physicians in the field of hearing loss treatment.
About Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is a serious health issue affecting an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide. The number of patients continues to rise, due to the growing and aging global population. Since the condition progresses slowly, it is often difficult to recognize and make the diagnosis rate low. Onset of hearing loss can interfere with various aspects of social life, such as communication with others and is known to be a risk factor for central nervous system disorders, including dementia.5
Reference:
1. WORLD REPORT ON HEARING, WHO, 2021.
2. GBD 2019 Hearing Loss Collaborators. Lancet. 2021; 397: 996-1009.
3. Wu, Pei-zhe, et al. Journal of Neuroscience. 2020; 40: 6357-6366.
4. Quan Yi-Zhou, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. 2023; 120: e2215253120.
5. Livingston Gill, et al. Lancet. 2024; 404: 572-628.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on expectations in light of the information currently available, assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. Risks and uncertainties include general domestic and international economic conditions such as general industry and market conditions, and changes of interest rate and currency exchange rate. These risks and uncertainties particularly apply with respect to product-related forward-looking statements. Product risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, completion and discontinuation of clinical trials; obtaining regulatory approvals; claims and concerns about product safety and efficacy; technological advances; adverse outcome of important litigation; domestic and foreign healthcare reforms and changes of laws and regulations. Also for existing products, there are manufacturing and marketing risks, which include, but are not limited to, inability to build production capacity to meet demand, lack of availability of raw materials and entry of competitive products. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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