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Deaf girl is cured in world first gene therapy trial

Opal Sandy, aged 18 months, was born completely deaf due to condition auditory neuropathy

Opal Sandy, aged 18 months, was born completely deaf due to the condition auditory neuropathy, which is caused by the disruption of nerve impulses travelling from the inner ear to the brain. Professor Manohar Bance, an ear surgeon at the trust and chief investigator for the trial, told the PA news agency the results were “better than I hoped or expected” and may point to a cure for patients with this type of deafness. The overall phase 1/2 Chord trial consists of three parts, with three deaf children, including Opal, receiving a low dose of gene therapy in one ear only.

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