Lineage Cell Therapeutics Announces Collaboration to Develop Cell Therapy for Hearing Loss

CARLSBAD, Calif., August 27, 2025 – Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced today a new research collaboration and investment from William Demant Invest A/S (WDI) to advance its auditory neuronal cell transplant, ReSonance (ANP1), for the treatment of hearing loss.

The multi-year partnership, which will be funded with up to $12 million from WDI, is a key step in developing the first internally-developed cell transplant program for Lineage. The collaboration will combine Lineage’s expertise in cell therapy manufacturing with the hearing healthcare research from WDI’s subsidiary, Eriksholm Research Centre. This joint effort will focus on preclinical development activities to support a potential IND/CTA filing.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 2.5 billion people are expected to experience some degree of hearing loss by 2025. This research focuses specifically on treating auditory neuropathy, a challenging hearing disorder where auditory nerve cells are damaged or lost, disrupting the communication pathway from the ear to the brain.

The goal of the cell therapy is to restore hearing by repopulating the cochlea with functional, transplanted auditory neurons. This approach could also enhance the effectiveness of cochlear implants for individuals with severe-to-found hearing loss.