Objective
Chemotherapy with platinum-based agents such as cisplatin has dramatically improved cancer survival, but at the cost of a severe side effect: profound hearing loss. Each year, millions of patients receive these drugs, and about half experience permanent auditory damage. This ototoxicity arises from multifactorial mechanisms involving oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage, and inflammatory and apoptotic pathways, which together lead to irreversible hearing loss. The current standard of care remains purely compensatory, limited to hearing aids or cochlear implants, and no approved preventive therapy exists for adults or metastatic cancer patients.
Exogenus’ pioneering therapy, EXO-OTO-01, is a first-in-class exosome product derived from umbilical cord blood, a uniquely young and immunologically balanced source currently being explored for otoprotection. This origin confers distinct biological advantages, endowing EXO-OTO-01 with antioxidative, immunomodulatory, and potential regenerative properties that directly counteract the multifactorial damage mechanisms underlying hearing loss. The product is manufactured through a patented and GMP-compatible process, and preclinical models have already demonstrated significant otoprotection after local delivery.
This EIC Pre-Accelerator will enable us to de-risk EXO-OTO-01 by advancing both its technological maturity and investment readiness, paving the way for first-in-human studies post-project. The project will deliver GMP-like manufacturing, an optimized delivery route for clinical translation, and efficacy and local safety data, advancing EXO-OTO-01 from TRL 4 to early TRL 6. It will also strengthen regulatory, IP, and business readiness, including through market and business modelling.
Given the large unmet need and growing pharmaceutical interest in hearing loss prevention, EXO-OTO-01 represents a transformative opportunity in otoprotection, positioning Europe at the forefront of exosome therapeutics.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases viral diseases RNA viruses HIV
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology implants
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.4.1 - Widening participation and spreading excellence
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-02
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3060-197 CANTANHEDE
Portugal
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.