AudioCure Pharma
AudioCure Pharma is a Berlin-based, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing AC102, a novel betacarboline small molecule delivered intratympanically as a gel, for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss and acute tinnitus in adults.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What AudioCure Pharma does
AudioCure Pharma GmbH is a privately held, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company headquartered in Berlin, Germany, developing drug treatments for hearing disorders with high unmet medical need. The company was founded by Prof. Hans Rommelspacher, a former head of Clinical Neurobiology at Charité University Berlin, and is led by CEO Dr. Reimar Schlingensiepen. Its lead asset AC102 is a novel betacarboline (fluorcarboline) small molecule designed to act on three pathological processes in the inner ear—protecting outer hair cells from cell death, enabling repair of inner hair cells and their synaptic connections to the auditory nerve, and reducing inflammation. AC102 is delivered via a proprietary gel formulation administered by intratympanic injection, optimizing local drug concentration while minimizing systemic exposure.
The company is running a multinational Phase 2 trial enrolling approximately 200 adult patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) at up to 45 European study centers across Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Serbia and the Netherlands. AC102 has received orphan drug designation from both the EMA (January 2019) and the FDA (March 2021), positioning it as a potential first-in-class disease-modifying therapy for SSNHL and acute tinnitus—indications for which no approved drugs exist worldwide. Preclinical data published in PNAS (2024) demonstrated near-complete restoration of noise-induced hearing loss after a single dose in animal models, and Phase 1 results in 42 healthy volunteers confirmed safety and tolerability.
AudioCure's business model is pre-commercial pharmaceutical R&D: it currently generates no product revenue and relies on equity financing from strategic and institutional investors including MED-EL (Austria, implantable hearing devices), High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF, Germany), and most recently InfectoPharm (Germany, ENT specialty pharma), which led a new financing round in February 2025. Future revenue is expected from drug sales upon regulatory approval, supplemented by an exclusive licensing arrangement with MED-EL granted as part of the 2016 Series A. The company employs 1–10 staff and operates from a single Berlin office at Geneststraße 5.
AudioCure Pharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AudioCure Pharma
- Legal name
- AudioCure Pharma GmbH
- Website
- https://audiocure.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- AudioCure Pharma is a Berlin-based, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing AC102, a novel betacarboline small molecule delivered intratympanically as a gel, for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss and acute tinnitus in adults.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AudioCure Pharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hearing Loss Therapeutics (Otorhinolaryngology Pharmaceuticals)
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Otology & Neurotology (Ear/Hearing/Balance) (HLAKAMAC)
Keywords
Where AudioCure Pharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
AudioCure Pharma 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
- Pharmaceutical drug development and commercialization: AudioCure is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical R&D company developing AC102 for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and acute tinnitus. The company has not yet generated product revenue as AC102 is still in Phase 2 clinical trials. Future revenue would come from drug sales upon regulatory approval.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
AudioCure Pharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AudioCure Pharma develops AC102, a novel betacarboline small-molecule drug candidate formulated as an intratympanic gel, for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), acute tinnitus, and electrode insertion trauma during cochlear implantation. The compound acts on multiple pathological processes in the inner ear (outer hair cell protection, inner hair cell repair, synaptic restoration, and anti-inflammation) and is being advanced through multinational Phase 2 clinical trials in Europe.
Product overview
AudioCure Pharma is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of novel small molecule drug candidates for the treatment of hearing disorders. The company's primary product is AC102, a disease-modifying therapeutic candidate for acute hearing loss and acute tinnitus, administered via a specialized intratympanic gel formulation. Additional development programs target tinnitus treatment and preservation of residual hearing in cochlear implant patients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AC102 Novel betacarboline small-molecule drug candidate in clinical development for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and acute tinnitus. AC102 acts on three key pathological processes of inner-ear disease — protection of outer hair cells from cell death, repair of synaptic connections between inner hair cells and the auditory nerve, and reduction of inflammation — and is administered as a single intratympanic dose via a specialized gel formulation. It has orphan drug designations from both the EMA (January 2019) and FDA (March 2021) and is currently in a multinational Phase 2 clinical trial.
- AC102 for Electrode Insertion Trauma (EIT) Application of the AC102 small molecule to the prevention of hearing loss caused by electrode insertion trauma during cochlear implantation. Developed in collaboration with MED-EL, which holds exclusive licensing rights to this indication. Preclinical studies are conducted with the Medical University of Vienna to assess AC102's ability to preserve residual hearing following cochlear implant surgery.
Quantifiable outcome
- AC102 nearly completely restores noise-induced hearing loss in guinea pig models to almost pre-noise levels after single dose (PNAS 2024)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use AudioCure Pharma
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
AudioCure Pharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
AudioCure Pharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc)corePhase 1 clinical trial conducted at Radboudumc in The Netherlands. Principal investigator Dr. Ronald Pennings led first-in-human study assessing safety and tolerability of AC102 after injection into the middle ear of healthy volunteers.
- University Hospital ErlangensecondaryJoint research collaboration with Erlangen University Hospital and AudioCure on tinnitus research. Study published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences showing AC102 nearly completely reversed tinnitus in preclinical model after single dose while restoring damaged connections between auditory nerve and inner ear sensory cells.
- Charité Universitätsmedizin BerlinsecondaryCollaboration with Dr. Julian Hellmann-Regen, Head of Clinical Neurobiology Laboratory, to further investigate molecular mode of action of AC102. Research focused on understanding how AC102 protects and restores inner ear cells.
- Medical University of Vienna (Allgemeines Krankenhaus)secondaryPhase 1 study site and collaboration on electrode insertion trauma research. Dr. Michael Nieratschker presented preclinical results on AC102 for preservation of residual hearing following cochlear implantation, conducted with MED-EL and AudioCure.
- Martin Luther University Halle-WittenbergcoreProf. Dr. Stefan Plontke serves as Coordinating Investigator for Phase 2 clinical trial. Prof. Plontke is Director of the ENT Clinic at University Medicine Halle and leading expert on sudden hearing loss treatment.
- Technical University of Applied Sciences, WildausecondaryEarlier collaboration with Dr. Wernicke from Wildau and Dr. Enzensperger from University of Jena for in vitro screening and testing of AC102. Dr. Wernicke received Research Award 2013 for work on hearing loss treatment approaches through NeuroPro Alliance.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
AudioCure Pharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Otonomy: Otonomy is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for ear disorders including SSNHL and Ménière's disease. It is the most directly comparable public peer, sharing AudioCure's focus on intratympanic drug delivery and otology indications.
- Sensorion: Sensorion is a French clinical-stage biotech developing small-molecule and gene therapies for hearing loss disorders including SSNHL and ototoxicity. Direct competitor in the SSNHL space with Phase 2 assets and orphan designations.
- Frequency Therapeutics: Frequency Therapeutics developed regenerative small-molecule therapies for sensorineural hearing loss, advancing lead candidates through clinical trials. Direct peer in the pharmacological treatment of inner ear hearing loss with Phase 1/2 assets.
- Decibel Therapeutics (Regeneron): Decibel Therapeutics was a clinical-stage biotech developing therapeutics for hearing and balance disorders before acquisition by Regeneron in 2023. Direct comparable for a hearing-loss-focused biotech with gene therapy and small-molecule approaches.
- Spiral Therapeutics: Spiral Therapeutics is a clinical-stage company developing intratympanic therapies for inner ear disorders including hearing loss. Shares AudioCure's specialized drug delivery approach and otology focus.
- Pipeline Therapeutics: Pipeline Therapeutics (formerly ProQR spin-out) is developing small-molecule therapies targeting inner ear disorders. Direct peer in hearing loss small-molecule development with comparable clinical-stage assets.
Emerging players
- Rinri Therapeutics: Rinri Therapeutics is a UK-based emerging biotech developing regenerative cell therapies for sensorineural hearing loss. Comparable as a hearing-loss therapeutics innovator though operating in a different modality (cell therapy vs small molecule).
- Audion Therapeutics: Audion Therapeutics is a Netherlands-based emerging biotech developing small-molecule therapeutics for hearing loss and inner ear regeneration. Directly comparable in therapeutic area with Phase 1 assets in hearing loss.
- Strekin AG: Strekin AG is a Swiss clinical-stage biotech focused on otology indications including SSNHL and hearing loss. Emerging peer operating in the same therapeutic space with small-molecule pipeline assets.
Broad incumbents
- MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geräte GmbH: MED-EL is the global leader in cochlear implant systems and an existing AudioCure investor/partner developing electrode insertion trauma applications for AC102. Broader incumbent in hearing loss treatment with overlapping R&D on drug-device combination approaches.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AudioCure Pharma social profiles
Digital presenceAudioCure Pharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AudioCure Pharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
AudioCure Pharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AudioCure Pharma 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 AudioCure Pharma
What does AudioCure Pharma do?
AudioCure Pharma develops AC102, a novel betacarboline small-molecule drug candidate formulated as an intratympanic gel, for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), acute tinnitus, and electrode insertion trauma during cochlear implantation. The compound acts on multiple pathological processes in the inner ear (outer hair cell protection, inner hair cell repair, synaptic restoration, and anti-inflammation) and is being advanced through multinational Phase 2 clinical trials in Europe.
Is AudioCure Pharma a public or private company?
AudioCure Pharma is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was AudioCure Pharma founded?
AudioCure Pharma was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is AudioCure Pharma based?
AudioCure Pharma is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does AudioCure Pharma make money?
One revenue line is on record: pharmaceutical drug development and commercialization.
Who are AudioCure Pharma's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Otonomy, Sensorion, Frequency Therapeutics, Decibel Therapeutics (Regeneron), Spiral Therapeutics and Pipeline Therapeutics. Emerging players are Rinri Therapeutics, Audion Therapeutics and Strekin AG. MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geräte GmbH is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does AudioCure Pharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for AudioCure Pharma.
What industry is AudioCure Pharma in?
AudioCure Pharma's product category is Hearing Loss Therapeutics (Otorhinolaryngology Pharmaceuticals). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAKAMAC, Otology & Neurotology (Ear/Hearing/Balance). Its NAICS code is 3254 and its SIC code is 2834.