I would hope that Dr. Lustig is gathering patient for dosing in the fourth cohort. It's been clear that 8 patients have been dosed, the ninth should be the last one in the third cohort. Patient 10 dosing probably would be after safety is proven in the 9th patient, perhaps 60 to 90 days after that patient has been dosed.
I believe the fourth cohort should produce the best results to date. We know earlier cohorts have seen patients hearing noise, but not yet intelligent speech. Hearing improvement has been seen between month 3 and 6, but I'm unaware if improvement continued to month 9 or 12, if it has, it's only been with patients in the first couple of cohorts.
Anecdotal evidence clearly shows some hearing where previously patients wouldn't have heard a thing. To me, the unknown is whether higher doses will prove to be the answer to intelligent hearing, or if it will take multiple doses, or perhaps another drug used in combination. We know that GNVC is working on other drugs, and that Novartis has rights of first refusal.
Happy New Year's all,
Gary |
