Decibel Therapeutics
Decibel Therapeutics was a clinical-stage hearing biotech that developed Otarmeni (DB-OTO), the first FDA-approved gene therapy for otoferlin-related congenital deafness. Acquired by Regeneron in 2023 for $109 million, it now operates within Regeneron's Genetic Medicines Center.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersCambridge, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Decibel Therapeutics does
Decibel Therapeutics was a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on discovering and developing gene therapies to protect, repair, and restore hearing. The company's core asset was Otarmeni (DB-OTO), a dual-vector adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy that delivers a functional copy of the otoferlin gene directly into inner ear cells, enabling treatment of OTOF-related congenital deafness. The proprietary dual-vector approach was developed in collaboration with Columbia University researchers and overcomes the ~4.7 kb size limitation of standard AAV vectors by splitting the ~6 kb otoferlin gene across two viral vectors that reassemble functional protein in target cells. The Phase 1/2 CHORD trial demonstrated 80% of evaluable patients (16 of 20) achieving hearing improvements by week 24, with 9 of 12 core cohort patients discontinuing cochlear implants post-treatment and zero serious adverse events attributed to the therapy; results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
In September 2023, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals acquired Decibel for $109 million, integrating the DB-OTO program into its Genetic Medicines Center. Otarmeni received FDA accelerated approval in April 2026 as the first gene therapy for genetic hearing loss. The therapy targets an ultra-rare population of approximately 20-50 newborns diagnosed with OTOF-related hearing loss annually in the US, for whom Regeneron provides the one-time treatment free of charge through a patient assistance program. As an acquired subsidiary within Regeneron, Decibel no longer operates as an independent commercial entity; its strategic value is now expressed through the platform's potential expansion into broader hearing loss indications via secondary programs such as DB-020.
Decibel Therapeutics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Decibel Therapeutics
- Legal name
- Decibel Therapeutics
- Website
- https://decibeltx.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Decibel Therapeutics was a clinical-stage hearing biotech that developed Otarmeni (DB-OTO), the first FDA-approved gene therapy for otoferlin-related congenital deafness. Acquired by Regeneron in 2023 for $109 million, it now operates within Regeneron's Genetic Medicines Center.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Decibel Therapeutics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Genetic Medicine / Hearing Loss Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Recombinant Protein Therapeutics (enzymes, hormones, growth factors) (HLAAAAAB)
Keywords
Where Decibel Therapeutics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Decibel Therapeutics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Gene Therapy Commercialization: Regeneron acquired Decibel Therapeutics and is providing Otarmeni free of charge to eligible U.S. patients. The therapy represents proof-of-concept for larger hearing loss indications rather than a traditional revenue-generating product. The company appears to be using this approval for brand positioning on drug pricing and as a platform for future hearing loss treatments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Free therapy program for eligible U.S. patients |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Decibel Therapeutics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Decibel Therapeutics was a biotechnology company that developed gene therapies to protect, repair, and restore hearing. Its core asset was Otarmeni (DB-OTO), a one-time dual-vector AAV gene therapy that delivers a functional otoferlin gene into inner ear cells to treat otoferlin (OTOF)-related congenital deafness. The therapy received FDA accelerated approval in April 2026 as the first gene therapy approved for genetic hearing loss.
Product overview
Decibel Therapeutics was a biotechnology company focused on developing gene therapies for hearing loss. The company's core product was DB-OTO (branded as Otarmeni), a gene therapy using a dual-vector adeno-associated virus (AAV) approach that splits the oversized otoferlin gene across two viruses to enable functional protein assembly in ear cells. Decibel Therapeutics was acquired by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in 2023 for approximately $109 million, and Otarmeni received FDA accelerated approval in April 2026 as the first gene therapy for genetic hearing loss.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Otarmeni (DB-OTO) A one-time, hospital-administered gene therapy that uses a dual-vector adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery system to deliver a functional otoferlin gene into inner ear cells of children with OTOF-related congenital deafness, restoring near-normal hearing. It is the first FDA-approved gene therapy for genetic hearing loss and is provided free of charge to eligible U.S. patients through Regeneron.
- DB-020 A pipeline candidate listed in the hearing loss clinical trial pipeline. Specific modality and indication details were not disclosed in the available sources.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% of evaluable patients (16 of 20) showed hearing improvements by week 24
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Decibel Therapeutics
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Decibel Therapeutics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Decibel Therapeutics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Columbia UniversitycoreResearchers at Columbia University collaborated with Decibel Therapeutics (later acquired by Regeneron) to develop the first FDA-approved gene therapy for otoferlin-related hearing loss. This collaboration led to the development of the dual-vector gene delivery approach that enabled the therapy's success.
- Regeneron PharmaceuticalscoreRegeneron acquired Decibel Therapeutics in September 2023 for $109 million to strengthen its genetic medicine capabilities, particularly for sensory disorders such as genetic hearing loss. The acquisition brought the DB-OTO program into Regeneron's portfolio, which subsequently received FDA approval in April 2026.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Decibel Therapeutics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Akouos: Akouos (acquired by Eli Lilly in 2022) developed AAV-based gene therapies for genetic hearing loss, including OTOF programs. It is the most directly comparable gene therapy peer in hearing restoration.
- Frequency Therapeutics: Frequency Therapeutics developed small-molecule and cell-therapy approaches to regenerate inner-ear hair cells for sensorineural hearing loss, targeting the same hearing-loss patient category with a different therapeutic modality.
- Otonomy: Otonomy develops therapeutics for ear disorders including hearing loss and tinnitus, representing a direct competitor in clinical-stage hearing-loss drug development.
Emerging players
- Sensorion: Sensorion is a France-based clinical-stage biotech developing gene therapies and small molecules for hearing loss, including OTOF programs, making it a directly comparable emerging gene therapy peer.
- Pipeline Therapeutics: Pipeline Therapeutics focuses on synaptic regeneration for hearing loss and balance disorders, representing an adjacent emerging approach in the same clinical category.
Broad incumbents
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Regeneron is Decibel's acquirer and parent company. It is a broad incumbent in biotech with a growing genetic medicines platform; comparable as the strategic steward of the DB-OTO/Otarmeni program.
- Eli Lilly: Eli Lilly acquired Akouos in 2022 to enter the genetic hearing-loss gene therapy space, making it a broad incumbent directly competing with Regeneron/Decibel in the same therapeutic category.
Others
- Cochlear Limited: Cochlear Limited is the leading cochlear implant manufacturer. While not a drug developer, it represents the standard-of-care alternative that gene therapies like Otarmeni aim to replace for eligible patients.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Decibel Therapeutics social profiles
Digital presenceDecibel Therapeutics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Decibel Therapeutics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Decibel Therapeutics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors16 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Decibel Therapeutics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Decibel Therapeutics
What does Decibel Therapeutics do?
Decibel Therapeutics was a biotechnology company that developed gene therapies to protect, repair, and restore hearing. Its core asset was Otarmeni (DB-OTO), a one-time dual-vector AAV gene therapy that delivers a functional otoferlin gene into inner ear cells to treat otoferlin (OTOF)-related congenital deafness. The therapy received FDA accelerated approval in April 2026 as the first gene therapy approved for genetic hearing loss.
Is Decibel Therapeutics a public or private company?
Decibel Therapeutics is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Decibel Therapeutics founded?
Decibel Therapeutics was founded in 2015. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Decibel Therapeutics based?
Decibel Therapeutics is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.
How does Decibel Therapeutics make money?
One revenue line is on record: gene Therapy Commercialization.
Who are Decibel Therapeutics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Akouos, Frequency Therapeutics and Otonomy. Emerging players are Sensorion and Pipeline Therapeutics. Broad incumbents are Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly. Cochlear Limited is listed as an others.
Does Decibel Therapeutics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Decibel Therapeutics.
What industry is Decibel Therapeutics in?
Decibel Therapeutics's product category is Genetic Medicine / Hearing Loss Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAAAB, Recombinant Protein Therapeutics (enzymes, hormones, growth factors). Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 2835.