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§ Private Profile · Cambridge, MA, USA
A Regeneron company developing treatments for hearing and balance disorders, focused on regenerating ear cells.
Decibel Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Boston, Massachusetts, that discovers and develops specialized medical treatments to restore human hearing and balance. The organization operates a comprehensive drug discovery platform targeting hearing loss and balance disorders, advancing specific clinical programs such as the DB-020 candidate to prevent ototoxicity resulting from cisplatin chemotherapy. Following a strategic corporate pivot in early 2020 to focus exclusively on regenerating inner ear cells, the enterprise was subsequently acquired and now operates as a fully integrated subsidiary of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. Prior to this acquisition, the development-stage business received venture capital backing from prominent life science investors including Third Rock Ventures and SR One, the corporate venture capital arm of GlaxoSmithKline. Decibel Therapeutics was founded in 2015 by a scientific team including Albert Edge, Charles Liberman, Gabriel Corfas, and Ulrich Mueller.
Decibel Therapeutics has raised $189.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Decibel Therapeutics has raised $189.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Decibel Therapeutics has raised $189.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $82.0M Series D in November 2020.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2020 | $82M Series D | Peter Thompson | GV, The Column Group, Versant Ventures, BlackRock, Casdin Capital, Foresite Capital, Janus Henderson Investors, Samsara BioCapital, S Cubed Capital, Sobrato Capital, SR ONE, Surveyor Capital, Third Rock Ventures | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2018 | $55M Series C | — | Apollo Health Ventures, GV, LearnLaunch Accelerator, Qiming Venture Partners USA, The Column Group, Versant Ventures, Wayne Chang, Bessemer Trust, Foresite Capital, Longevity Venture Partners, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Schroder Adveq, S Cubed Capital, SR ONE, Third Rock Ventures | Announced |
| Oct 1, 2015 | $52M Series A | Craig Muir | Apollo Health Ventures, LearnLaunch Accelerator, Qiming Venture Partners USA, Wayne Chang, Jens Eckstein | Announced |
Decibel Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing gene therapies to protect, repair, and restore hearing and balance, targeting profound congenital hearing loss caused by genetic mutations like OTOF deficiency[1][2][3][4][5]. Its lead product candidate, DB-OTO, is an AAV-based dual-vector gene therapy designed to deliver functional otoferlin to inner hair cells, enabling sound signal transmission to the brain and providing durable hearing restoration for children[2][3][5]. The company serves pediatric patients and families affected by monogenic hearing loss, addressing a critical unmet need where current treatments like cochlear implants offer only partial solutions, through initiatives like the Amplify genetic testing program and patient education[2]. Growth momentum includes launching the CHORD Phase 1/2 clinical trial in May 2023 across the US, UK, and Spain, plus Orphan Drug Designations from FDA and EMA[3].
Founded in 2015 by Third Rock Ventures and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Decibel Therapeutics emerged from innovations in hearing science, genetics, and drug delivery, led by preeminent experts in impaired hearing[1]. The company assembled a world-class scientific advisory board in 2016, featuring leaders in neuroscience, genetics, and drug discovery to guide its pioneering approach[1]. Key early traction came from developing DB-OTO for OTOF-mediated hearing loss and launching patient-focused programs like Amplify to identify genetic causes and build advocacy[2].
Decibel rides the wave of gene therapy advancements for monogenic diseases, leveraging AAV vectors amid rising success in rare disorders like spinal muscular atrophy and hemophilia[3]. Timing aligns with expanded genetic testing accessibility and regulatory support for orphan indications, amplified by post-pandemic focus on pediatric unmet needs[2][3]. Market forces favoring Decibel include a 466 million global hearing loss cases (projected to double by 2050 per WHO estimates, though not directly cited here) and biotech investor interest in precision medicine[1][4]. It influences the ecosystem by advancing genetic diagnostics integration into audiology, potentially shifting standards from implants to curative therapies[2][3].
Decibel's CHORD trial data readouts could validate DB-OTO as a first-in-class therapy, paving for expanded indications in other genetic hearing losses and balance disorders[3][4]. Trends like AI-driven diagnostics and next-gen AAV capsids will accelerate its pipeline, while partnerships (e.g., Regeneron) bolster scalability[3]. Influence may evolve from niche innovator to ecosystem leader, unlocking hearing restoration and redefining biotech's impact on sensory disorders—transforming lives muted by genetics, much like its mission to deliver durable hearing where none existed[1][5].
Decibel Therapeutics has raised $189.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Decibel Therapeutics's investors include Peter Thompson, GV, The Column Group, Versant Ventures, BlackRock, Casdin Capital, Foresite Capital, Janus Henderson Investors, Samsara BioCapital, S-Cubed Capital, Sobrato Capital, SR One.