May 1, 2026
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company with corporate headquarters in New York, announced on April 23 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval of Otarmeni™, the first and only gene therapy for genetic hearing loss.
Regeneron is using patented technology from the University of Missouri to deliver the therapy to individuals born with profound congenital hearing loss due to an otoferlin deficiency.
Dongsheng Duan, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology; Research Specialist Lead Yongping Yue; and former graduate student Arkasubhra Ghosh invented the technology.
Duan specializes in designing vehicles, or viral vector systems, that bring a therapeutic gene to cells or tissues. In this case, his innovations expand the capacity of the Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) to deliver genes that, in the past, have been too big to fit on a single AAV vector.
“This is the first FDA-approved dual AAV product, an approach that enables gene therapy to be used to treat a larger diversity of genetic diseases,” said Brian Buntaine, senior technology transfer manager who works with Duan and other faculty inventors to leverage the commercial potential of their research. “MU is proud to have partnered with Regeneron, who is offering Otarmeni™ for free in the U.S., highlighting their commitment to improving lives through science.”
Increasing the impact of academic research
Every year, Mizzou researchers disclose approximately 100+ promising new inventions like Duan’s viral vector system, and they partner with the Technology Advancement office to patent innovations and find industry partners to further develop and commercialize them.
Faculty inventors are responsible for all kinds of products, including new plant varieties, devices and tools, therapeutics and diagnostics, software and engineering solutions.
In fact, for the fourth year in a row, Mizzou and the UM System made the annual list of top 100 U.S. universities granted utility patents, published annually by the National Academy of Inventors.
“The process starts when researchers who think they have an innovation with commercial potential submit a confidential Invention Disclosure Form,” said Technology Advancement Director John Woodson. “Having intellectual property protected by patents, copyrights or trademarks allows companies to commercialize university inventions by restricting competition.”
In calendar year 2025, the university was granted 12 U.S. patents and received $2.4 million in licensing income from 25 industry partners. New commercial products also had first sales, including a black walnut cultivar and a hyperrealistic IV training arm for students in medical professions.
Learn more by contacting the Technology Advancement office at 573-882-6013 or techadvancement@missouri.edu.