Salzburg/Innsbruck, October 2020
The pharmaceutical GMP manufacturing Unit at the Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS) at the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg (PMU) and the Austrian manufacturer MED-EL Medical Electronics, a pioneer in the field of implantable hearing devices, conceded their future cooperation in the controlled clinical testing and evaluation of the safety and efficacy of novel nanovesicular therapeutics. Aim of this first clinical trial, in cooperation with Hannover Medial School (MHH) in Germany, is the investigation of the safety and applicability of human umbilical cord stem cell-derived nanovesicles for their use to improve the healing and performance of cochlear implants via suppression of fibrosis, inflammation and scar formation. MED-EL is investing more than 1,8 mio € over the next two years in this joint development.
The contracts were signed at MED-EL’s headquarters in Innsbruck by Wolfgang Sperl (Rector PMU), Michael Nake (Chancellor PMU), Eva Rohde (Director of the GMP Unit) and Ingeborg Hochmair (Co-founder and CEO of MED-EL).
About PMU and Salzburg
Research in the field of „Nanovesicular Therapies“ is a focus area of the life science program in Salzburg. For over 4 years PMU supports their own Research Program on “Nanovesicular Therapies” that is associated with the GMP unit at PMU. The Transfer Center for Extracellular Vesicles Theralytic Technologies (EV-TT), a joint activity with the Paris-Lodron University Salzburg. EV-TT is a lead project of the Science and Innovation Strategy (WISS2025) of the State of Salzburg and is supported by grants from the State of Salzburg and the European Regional Development Fund for Investment for Growth and Jobs (IWB/EFRE). https://evtt.pmu.ac.at/en/
About MED-EL
MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leader in implantable hearing solutions, is driven by a mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication. The Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose ground-breaking research led to the development of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI), which was successfully implanted in 1977 and was the basis for what is known as the modern CI today. This laid the foundation for the successful growth of the company in 1990, when they hired their first employees. To date, MED-EL has grown to more than 2,200 employees from around 75 nations and 30 locations worldwide.
The company offers the widest range of implantable and non-implantable solutions to treat all types of hearing loss, enabling people in 124 countries enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL’s hearing solutions include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined Electric Acoustic Stimulation hearing implant system, auditory brainstem implants as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices.
MED-EL has continuously invested in research, design and development of its hearing solutions, investing up to 20% of the company’s turnover in R&D. The most exciting advancements are based upon the close and interdisciplinary collaboration between highly qualified researchers and developers (in the area of engineering, software, physics, chemistry and medicine). Furthermore, MED-EL participates in numerous EU research programmes and fosters applied research activities via cooperation projects with more than 100 research institutions worldwide. www.medel.com
Press release MED-EL:
- MED-EL "MED-EL collaborates with Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg for a phase 1/2a clinical trial on improved healing of cochlear implants" [see homepage]
