Multicentre gene therapy for <i>OTOF</i>-related deafness followed up to 2.5 years

Autosomal recessive deafness 9, caused by OTOF gene mutations, is characterized by severe-to-complete congenital deafness1. Although gene therapy has shown benefits in a small number of patients2,3,4,5, its safety and efficacy across broader age ranges and longer follow-up periods, as well as predictors of treatment outcomes, remain unclear. In this single-arm, multicentre trial conducted at eight centres, 42 participants (aged 0.8–32.3 years) received adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 1 carrying a human OTOF coding transgene (AAV1-hOTOF) at three vector dose groups, with up to 2.5-year follow-up. The primary end point was dose-limiting toxicity within 6 weeks. The secondary end point assessed efficacy and adverse events. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. Grade 3 adverse events included decreased neutrophil count. Hearing was recovered in 90% of participants treated with AAV1-hOTOF, with gradual and stable improvement in auditory brainstem response threshold from greater than 97 ± 1 dB normalized hearing level at baseline to 54 ± 3, 51 ± 3, 50 ± 3 and 42 ± 5 dB normalized hearing level at 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 years, respectively, and behavioural audiometry improving from greater than 96 ± 3 dB hearing level at baseline to 37 ± 5 dB hearing level at 2.5 years. Participants aged 0.5–18 years showed greater hearing improvement than adults. A higher number of present distortion product otoacoustic emissions at baseline or biallelic non-truncated OTOF variants was associated with better hearing recovery. Participants with hearing recovery demonstrated gradual improvement in speech perception. AAV1-hOTOF is well-tolerated and efficacious across a broader patient population, with sustained therapeutic benefits for up to 2.5 years. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry registration: ChiCTR2200063181.