Sensorion announced that it has received authorization from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom to launch a Phase 1 clinical trial of its product candidate SENS-218 for the treatment of acute or chronic inner ear lesions either from vestibular or cochlear lesions. This Phase 1 clinical trial aims to prove the safety and determine the pharmacokinetics profile of SENS-218 in Caucasian subjects. The company plans to initiate the trial in the United Kingdom during the first quarter of 2016 with data expected by mid-year.

This trial follows positive pre-clinical data with SENS-218 in acute vertigo and acute noise-induced hearing loss when compared to placebo. The company expects to initiate its Phase 2a trial in the second half of 2016 either in a vestibular or a cochlear indication, in line with the company's previously disclosed development timeline.