Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), a commonly prescribed antiviral drug, mitigates hearing loss in mice.

A study published in Clinical & Translational Medicine suggests that the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu) may have potential as a treatment for hearing loss. The researchers found that oseltamivir protected against hair cell loss in mouse cochlear explants caused by the chemotherapy drug cisplatin, without affecting cisplatin's ability to kill tumors. In mouse models, oseltamivir also protected against cisplatin-induced hearing loss and outer hair cell loss. Furthermore, oral oseltamivir therapy showed promise in protecting against noise-induced hearing loss. The study suggests that oseltamivir could be a promising candidate for treating hearing loss caused by chemotherapy and noise exposure. [Extracted from the article]