Interview with Simon Chandler, CEO of Rinri Therapeutics By Caitlin Dolegowski, Marketing Manager, LSN
 Simon Chandler |
 Caitlin Dolegowski |
Rinri Therapeutics is at the forefront of advancing treatments for sensorineural hearing loss, a condition affecting millions worldwide for which no disease-modifying therapeutics are currently available. In this interview, we explore how Rinri’s pioneering stem-cell-based approach aims to restore cochlear function, the company’s progress toward clinical trials, and their experience at RESI conferences as they build connections with investors to bring transformative solutions to patients.
Caitlin Dolegowski (CD): Can you share a brief overview of Rinri Therapeutics and the unmet medical need your technology addresses?
Simon Chandler (SC): Hearing loss represents a massive global unmet medical need, with over 500 million people worldwide living with disabling hearing loss. This prevalence is comparable to major chronic conditions such as diabetes and osteoarthritis. Despite its significant impact on quality of life, there are currently no disease-modifying therapeutics for hearing loss. The only available options—hearing aids and cochlear implants—are palliative devices that address the symptoms rather than the root cause of hearing loss.
Furthermore, these devices rely on functional auditory neurons to perform effectively. This limitation means they often underperform in patients with poor cochlear innervation, including those with age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) and auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder. Together, these conditions affect an estimated 7 million patients in high-income countries alone.
At Rinri Therapeutics, our pioneering approach seeks to restore cochlear function by replacing the deficient or missing cells in the cochlea with functional replacements. Using progenitor cells derived from pluripotent stem cells, we aim to fundamentally address the root cause of sensorineural hearing loss and offer a transformative therapeutic solution.
CD: What sets your therapeutic approach apart from others in the same field, and what stage of development are you currently in?
SC: The majority of current hearing loss research focuses on otoprotection—attempting to prevent further hearing loss after an ototoxic event. Additionally, while gene therapies have emerged as a potential solution for hereditary hearing loss, these genetic conditions are exceedingly rare. As a result, gene therapies alone cannot address the predominant causes of hearing loss, particularly acquired sensorineural hearing loss, which accounts for approximately 90% of all cases.
At Rinri, we are taking a fundamentally different approach. Sensorineural hearing loss is primarily caused by the death or damage of auditory sensory cells in the cochlea. Our innovative hypothesis is that the optimal way to restore hearing is to replace these damaged or missing cells with functional equivalents. While this concept has been pursued in academic research for over two decades, Rinri’s technology is the first to demonstrate the functional restoration of hearing in preclinical models of neural hearing loss.
We have made significant progress and are currently transitioning from preclinical development to clinical validation. Key milestones include the successful manufacture of GMP-compliant clinical drug substance (DS) and the completion of pivotal GLP toxicology studies. These achievements place us on track to initiate first-in-human (FIH) clinical trials in 2025.
CD: How do you envision your technology impacting patient care in the long term?
SC: Our long-term vision is to revolutionize the treatment landscape for hearing loss by establishing therapeutics as a cornerstone of patient care. Our therapy has the potential to significantly enhance the effectiveness of existing interventions, such as cochlear implants and even hearing aids, by serving as an adjunctive therapy that improves cochlear function.
Additionally, for patients with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, our technology could be deployed as a standalone monotherapy, offering a groundbreaking solution to a condition for which there are currently no viable treatment options. Through these channels, we believe our therapy will dramatically improve hearing outcomes and significantly enhance the quality of life for millions of patients worldwide.
CD: What are the key milestones Rinri Therapeutics is aiming to achieve in the next year?
SC: The upcoming year will be pivotal for Rinri Therapeutics as we transition from preclinical development to early clinical validation. Key milestones include:
Securing the Clinical Trial Authorization (CTA): Finalizing our regulatory submission and gaining approval to initiate first-in-human clinical trials.
Initiating the First-in-Human (FIH) Trial: Embarking on the trial and enrolling the first cohort of patients.
Scaling Manufacturing Capabilities: Advancing the scaling of our manufacturing processes to ensure a smooth transition to later-stage development.
Demonstrating Clinical Proof-of-Concept (POC): Progressing rapidly to generate early clinical data that validates the therapeutic potential of our approach.
These milestones are critical to accelerating our journey toward delivering transformative solutions to patients and positioning Rinri as a leader in hearing restoration therapeutics.
CD: This was your first time attending a RESI conference. How did the event compare to your expectations?
SC: Attending RESI London for the first time was a refreshing and highly positive experience. The event exceeded my expectations in several ways. The atmosphere was welcoming and collaborative, which created a conducive environment for meaningful interactions. What stood out most was the exposure to a unique group of investors—those with a specific interest in early-stage, cutting-edge technologies. These are exactly the type of investors we aim to connect with at Rinri, so the conference provided an excellent platform to engage with individuals who understand the risks and rewards of innovative science-driven ventures.
CD: What was your experience like participating in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, and how valuable was the feedback from the judges?
SC: Participating in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge was both an exciting and enriching experience. The 6-minute format presented a dual challenge: condensing a complex value proposition into a brief window of time while ensuring that the key points landed effectively. At the same time, it was an excellent exercise in focus and clarity – forcing us to prioritize the most critical aspects of Rinri’s story.
While we have presented pitches in other settings before, the judges’ questions at RESI were insightful and constructive. Their feedback offered valuable perspectives on how to refine and iterate our presentation, making it clearer and more impactful for future audiences. Such iterative improvements are essential to ensuring that our messaging resonates with diverse investor groups and maximizes our appeal.
CD: You’ll be attending RESI JPM next. What are you hoping to achieve or build upon from your RESI London experience?
SC: Building on the momentum from RESI London, we aim to broaden our investor reach at RESI JPM by engaging with a more diverse and international audience, particularly investors from the US and East Asia. These regions represent significant opportunities for Rinri, given their robust interest in innovative biomedical technologies.
We also plan to apply the lessons learned from the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge and our networking activities in London to enhance our engagement strategy. This includes refining our pitch further, leveraging the feedback received, and being even more targeted in our discussions with investors. Ultimately, we hope to secure strong connections that will advance Rinri’s fundraising goals and strategic partnerships.
CD: Beyond the Pitch Challenge, what aspects of RESI did you find most beneficial, such as the partnering meetings or investor panels?
SC: While the Pitch Challenge was a key highlight, the partnering meetings and broader networking opportunities were equally invaluable. The ability to sit down with potential investors for in-depth discussions allowed us to expand beyond the constraints of a 6-minute pitch. These longer conversations provided an opportunity to thoroughly articulate Rinri’s value proposition, address specific questions, and explore potential synergies in greater detail.
Additionally, the investor panels were informative, offering insights into current trends, investment priorities, and what drives decision-making within the early-stage biotech sector. This knowledge will be instrumental in shaping our approach as we engage with investors at RESI JPM and beyond.
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