One of the UK's largest charities supporting deaf and hard of hearing people is urging the pharmaceutical to find a cure for tinnitus.
RNID, a charity representing the nine million people in the UK, has launched a new 'Tinnitus Market Report' that highlights the commercial opportunities that exist for effective tinnitus treatment.
The charity, which already funds research into tinnitus at universities around the world, is now inviting pharmaceutical organisations and experts in the hearing research field to work together to provide relief.
Of the 7,406 drugs currently in development only 18 are for hearing-related conditions. RNID hopes that its report will increase the number of organisations working on tinnitus.
Dr Ralph Holme, head of biomedical research at RNID said: "Seven million people in the UK have tinnitus, rising to 18.6 million if the USA and the rest of northern Europe are included - yet there is currently no pharmaceutical treatment available.
"RNID estimates that a novel drug offering relief from tinnitus would be worth $940m - now we want to act as a match-maker between experts in the field and pharmaceutical organisations to make it a reality."