Rescue Hearing

What Rescue Hearing does

Rescue Hearing Inc. (RHI) is a privately held, pre-clinical biotechnology company founded in 2015 in Gainesville, Florida, that develops AAV-mediated gene therapies to treat genetic forms of hearing loss. The company's pipeline targets specific genetic mutations — including DFNB8 (licensed to Myrtelle), DFNB16, USH1B/MYO7A, DFNB77, and RHI100 (TMPRSS3) — using AAV2 vectors delivered to the inner ear to restore function in affected hair cells. Two of these programs (MYO7A and STRC) were divested to MED-EL in May 2026, expanding the global hearing implant company's footprint into gene-based therapeutics. RHI was founded by Jim Ayala following his son's diagnosis with STRC-related genetic hearing loss, and its scientific leadership includes CSO Dr. Hinrich Staecker, who previously developed the first gene therapy for hearing loss to enter human clinical trials (Novartis CGF166).

RHI operates without commercialized products and generates no product revenue; its economic activity to date consists of licensing and divestiture transactions with Myrtelle and MED-EL. The company builds awareness through scientific conference presentations (ARO MidWinter Meeting), blog content, and Facebook community groups for each targeted genetic mutation, positioning itself for future clinical trial recruitment. The go-to-market model relies on strategic partnerships with established hearing industry players for development and commercialization, rather than building independent commercial infrastructure. Scientific advisory board members from Harvard Medical School/Boston Children's Hospital (Dr. Jeffery Holt) and Hannover Medical School (Dr. Athanasia Warnecke) provide vector development and regulatory expertise.

The addressable market is large — over 466 million people globally affected by hearing loss, with 30-50% of cases attributed to genetic factors and over 100 distinct genetic mutations implicated. However, RHI operates at the earliest stages of drug development with all programs either pre-clinical or licensed out for development, and no disclosed funding, valuation, or headcount data. The company's competitive position rests on its scientific talent concentration, proprietary AAV2 delivery platform, and first-mover positioning in inner ear gene therapy, validated externally by the MED-EL and Myrtelle transactions.

Name

Rescue Hearing

Legal name

Rescue Hearing Inc.

Website

https://rescuehearing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rescue Hearing Inc. is a pre-clinical biotech developing AAV-mediated gene therapies targeting genetic mutations that cause hearing loss. The company licenses and divests its programs — including DFNB8 (to Myrtelle) and MYO7A/STRC (to MED-EL) — rather than commercializing products directly.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gene Therapy for Hearing Loss

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription) (EDAFAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI)

Keywords

• Gene therapy biotech
• Hearing loss treatments
• AAV gene delivery
• Inner ear therapies
• Otology research

Headquarters

HQ city

Gainesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Gene Therapy Product Sales: Once approved, gene therapies will be sold to patients with specific genetic mutations causing hearing loss. Revenue will come from commercialized products DFNB8, DFNB16, USH1B, and TMPRSS3 programs.
2. Licensing and Acquisition Revenue: RHI has already demonstrated licensing strategy with the Myrtelle partnership (DFNB8 licensed) and the MED-EL acquisition (MYO7A and STRC programs sold). Future licensing deals for remaining pipeline programs.
3. Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations: Partnerships with companies like Myrtelle provide development funding, expertise sharing, and milestone payments as gene therapy programs advance through regulatory stages.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rescue Hearing Inc. (RHI) is a pre-commercial biotechnology company developing a pipeline of AAV-mediated gene therapy candidates that target specific genetic mutations causing progressive hearing loss and deafness. Its portfolio includes DFNB8, DFNB16, USH1B, DFNB77, and RHI100 (TMPRSS3) programs, with select programs licensed to Myrtelle and acquired by MED-EL for development and commercialization.

Product overview

Rescue Hearing is developing a portfolio of precision-engineered gene therapy products targeting various forms of genetic hearing loss. The pipeline includes five breakthrough candidates: DFNB8 (most common genetic deafness in cochlear implant patients, licensed to Myrtelle), USH1B (addressing Usher Syndrome hearing and balance disorders), DFNB16 (second leading cause of genetic deafness via STRC gene), DFNB77 (nonsyndromic hearing loss), and RHI100 (TMPRSS3 mutations). The company leverages advanced biotechnology and molecular diagnostics to create targeted hearing restoration treatments. Note: MYO7A and STRC gene therapy programs were acquired by MED-EL in May 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DFNB8 Gene Therapy AAV-mediated gene therapy targeting individuals born with progressive hearing loss caused by DFNB8 mutations, the most frequent genetic cause of deafness in cochlear implant recipients. Licensed to Myrtelle for development and commercialization.
• DFNB16 Gene Therapy AAV2 gene therapy targeting mutations in the STRC gene, the second leading cause of genetic deafness, delivered to restore stereocilin protein function in inner ear hair cells. Targets a specialized market with significant growth potential and clear regulatory pathway.
• USH1B Gene Therapy Gene therapy addressing Usher Syndrome Type 1B hearing and balance disorders by targeting MYO7A gene mutations. Aims to rescue vestibular function in Usher Syndrome patients. Currently in pre-IND studies phase.
• DFNB77 Gene Therapy AAV-mediated gene therapy for nonsyndromic form of genetic hearing loss seen in the cochlear implant population.
• RHI100 (TMPRSS3) Gene Therapy AAV2-TMPRSS3 gene delivery therapy for patients with TMPRSS3 mutations, targeting the most prevalent genetic etiology in adult cochlear implant recipients. Addresses post-lingual hearing loss and cochlear implant failure cases. Demonstrated significant hearing improvement and markedly improved hair cell survival in mouse models at 12 months.

Quantifiable outcome

• AAV2-TMPRSS3 gene therapy demonstrated significant hearing improvement in treated inner ears vs. contralateral control ears in mouse models at 12 months of age
• +4 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geräte GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026MED-EL, a global leader in hearing implant solutions headquartered in Innsbruck, Austria, acquired full rights to Rescue Hearing's MYO7A and STRC gene therapy programs in May 2026. The acquisition expands MED-EL's R&D activities into gene-based therapeutic approaches targeting genetic disorders associated with mutations in MYO7A (balance disorders) and STRC (hearing disorders). MED-EL emphasizes these programs will augment, not replace, its core hearing implant technologies. MED-EL serves patients in 140 countries with over 3,100 employees from 90 nations.
• MyrtellecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2022Strategic partnership announced May 19, 2022 for developing targeted gene therapies for hearing loss. RHI granted Myrtelle a worldwide exclusive license to develop and commercialize the DFNB8 gene therapy program. The collaboration combines RHI's auditory expertise with Myrtelle's advanced gene therapy platforms. Initial focus on preclinical studies to establish evidence for future clinical trials. DFNB8 is the most common genetic cause of deafness in the cochlear implant population.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pipeline Therapeutics: Pipeline Therapeutics develops precision therapeutics for hearing loss, including small-molecule programs targeting inner ear hair cell function. Direct peer in the hearing loss therapeutics space with comparable early-stage clinical positioning.
• Myrtelle: Myrtelle is a gene therapy company developing treatments for hearing loss and CNS disorders. Direct peer via RHI's DFNB8 license partnership; both pursue AAV-mediated inner ear gene therapy for genetic deafness indications.
• Akouos: Akouos is a precision genetic medicine company developing AAV-based gene therapies for hearing and balance disorders. Acquired by Eli Lilly in 2022, it represents the most directly comparable inner ear gene therapy platform to RHI's pipeline.
• Otonomy: Otonomy is a biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for ear disorders including hearing loss and tinnitus. Direct peer in disease-modifying hearing loss therapeutics, with overlapping target indications and ENT-specialist distribution strategy.
• Frequency Therapeutics: Frequency Therapeutics developed regenerative therapies for hearing loss (FX-322). Direct peer in the hearing loss therapeutics space pursuing disease-modifying approaches beyond hearing aids and cochlear implants, though using small-molecule regeneration rather than gene therapy.
• Decibel Therapeutics: Decibel Therapeutics developed gene therapies and small molecules for hearing loss and balance disorders. Acquired by Eli Lilly in 2023, it directly parallels RHI's strategy of targeting genetic causes of hearing loss via inner ear delivery.

Broad incumbents

• MED-EL: MED-EL is a global leader in hearing implant solutions with 3,100+ employees across 140 countries. As RHI's strategic acquirer of MYO7A and STRC programs, MED-EL is both partner and a broad incumbent in hearing loss treatment, now expanding from implants into gene therapy.
• Novartis: Novartis developed CGF166, the first gene therapy for hearing loss approved for human clinical trials, with RHI's CSO Dr. Hinrich Staecker as principal investigator. Novartis represents the historical benchmark for inner ear gene therapy development and remains a potential large-pharma competitor or acquirer in the space.
• Cochlear Limited: Cochlear Limited is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, providing cochlear implant technology to patients worldwide. As the dominant incumbent in severe-to-profound hearing loss treatment, it represents the standard-of-care alternative to RHI's gene therapy approach for advanced genetic deafness.
• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Regeneron is a major biopharmaceutical company that has demonstrated clinical proof-of-concept for inner ear gene therapy via its CHORD trial for OTOF-related hearing loss (10 of 11 children improved). Represents the most credible large-pharma validation of the therapeutic category RHI competes in.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RescueHearing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rescuehearing
• Instagraminstagram.com/rescuehearinginc
• Xx.com/rescuehearing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rescue Hearing