USPTO issues Notice of Allowance for Novel Hearing Loss Treatment Patent

July 7, 2004

SEATTLE, WA—Sound Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (SPI) announced that its patent “Method for treating hearing loss” has received a notice of allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

SPI has developed a novel drug strategy to prevent and treat sensorineural hearing loss. Everyday, 30 million Americans are exposed to hazardous or potentially deafening noise, usually as part of their occupation or environment. This toxic exposure, over days, months or years results in noise induced hearing loss, tinnitus or ringing in the ears, and age-related hearing loss.

SPI has developed SPI-1005, an oral capsule that contains a small molecule mimic of glutathione peroxidase activity, which helps to protect and treat auditory hair cells during and after noise exposure. In response to noise, auditory hair cells become damaged or irreversibly injured resulting in nonfunctional or dysfunctional hair cells. Unlike other sensory systems, the damage or loss of a small fraction of sensory hair cells can cause significant functional deficits. SPI-1005 acts to prevent and treat those events as shown in live animal studies that were published in the scientific journal Laryngoscope in February of 2004.

“We are extremely pleased that the USPTO has granted a notice of allowance for this seminal technology,” says Jonathan Kil, MD, President & CEO. This patent protected formulation will enter clinical testing in the US military later this year. An INDA was filed June 30 with the FDA to begin human testing in a combined phase I/II study.

Sound Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a drug development company focused on treating hearing loss. To date, Sound Pharmaceuticals’ drug discovery program has identified targets for the prevention of hearing loss and for the improvement of hearing in individuals with hearing loss. For more information please visit http://www.soundpharmaceuticals.com

CONTACT: Dr. Jonathan Kil, President & CEO, Sound Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 4010 Stone Way N Suite 120, Seattle WA 98103, jkil@soundpharmaceuticals.com, 206-634-2559.