Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of ACOU085 for prevention of hearing loss in testicular cancer patients receiving cisplatin

Who can take part

• Confirmed diagnosis of testicular cancer with indication for a cis-Pt-containing chemotherapeutic regimen according to current treatment guidelines and site-specific tumor board recommendations • Male adult patients at an age between 18 and 45 years • Planned cis-Pt treatment with a cumulative dose of ≥ 300 mg/m2 which has to be administered in 3 chemotherapeutic cycles • Normal or not clinically relevant otoscopic findings in both ears • Normal hearing at both ears according to current WHO criteria for air-conduction 4PTA (0.5/1/2/4 kHz; 0 to 19 dB HL; average of audiometric thresholds at 0.5/1/2/4 kHz) at baseline • Normal hearing at both ears according to ASHA criteria with a hearing threshold at any frequency (0.25 to 12 kHz) not exceeding 20 dB and a 4PTA (0.5/1/2/4 kHz) showing ≤15 dB HL at baseline • Normal distortion product oto-acoustic emissions (DPOAE) present in both ears at baseline • Patient shows normal results at trial start (V1) concerning heart rate (50 to 90 bpm), blood pressure (according to commonly accepted ranges), ECG (no pathological findings), and laboratory parameters (ie, liver and renal function values not exceeding the upper limits of normal) • Male patients and their female partner(s) must agree to use 2 forms of contraception (one of which must be a barrier method) during 6 months after trial initiation • Patient is cooperative, able to understand all aspects of the trial, and able to speak German comparable to native speakers as per the investigator's discretion • Patient has signed an approved informed consent form indicating that he understands the purpose of and procedures required for the trial, will follow the trial-specific measures, and is willing to participate in the trial

Who cannot take part

• Suspected or diagnosed genetic predisposition to hearing loss (incl. DFNA2 rel. to KCNQ4) 2) History of middle ear pathology or surgery, otitis externa, chronic otitis media, or recent acute otitis media (within ≤ 3 months) 3) History of otologic surgery (excluding myringotomy tubes or simple tympanoplasty) 4) Meniere‘s disease or secondary endolymphatic hydrops, auto immune hearing loss, inner ear pathology, fluctuating hearing loss, perilymph fistula, cochlear baro-trauma, radiation-induced hearing loss, retro-cochlear lesion, severe tympanosclerosis, atrophic tympanic membrane 5) Hearing loss of >45 dB averaged at 6 and 8 kHz in either ear 6) Sudden hearing loss or conductive hearing loss >10 dB at two frequencies in either ear 7) Asymmetry in hearing thresholds between left and right ear ≥20 dB at any single frequency or ≥10 dB at any 3 consecutive frequencies ≤ 8 kHz 8) Intake of any ototoxic drugs other than the intended cis-Pt-containing chemotherapeutic drug regimen prior to start of the trial and during the trial period 9) Previous radiation exposure >35 Gray to complete or parts of the cochlea 10) Severe concomitant diseases such as heart failure (NYHA II-IV), COPD, bronchial asthma, ongoing malignancies other than testicular cancer, auto-immune or chronic-inflammatory diseases, endocrinological diseases, advanced hepatic or renal failure, and primary complaint of tinnitus 11) Planned consumption of medications, herbal preparations, and specific food ingredients to treat hearing problems and/or tinnitus during the trial period 12) Hypersensitivity against any primary or secondary ingredient of IMP/Placebo medication 13) Male patients with female partners who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during 6 months after trial initiation 14) Use of any other investigational medicinal product (IMP) within one month prior to screening and planned use during the trial or up to 30 days after trial completion 15) Patient has any dependent relationship or employment status with respect to the trial site, the sponsor, the investigator, or any supervisor