developing therapies to prevent and treat childhood ear infections
About Us
Oto Medicines Pty Ltd is based in Western Australia as a spin-out company from The Kids Research Institute Australia. Incorporated in 2025, Oto Medicines aims to deliver innovative solutions to prevent and treat childhood middle ear infections – also known as Otitis Media or OM.
OM affects almost every child, with one in four experiencing recurrent or chronic infection that negatively impacts hearing, speech, and learning. These ear infections are the leading reason for doctor visits, antibiotic prescriptions and ear surgery worldwide, yet there is no preventative therapy for the most common bacterial cause of OM.
We are developing Spritz-OM, a simple nasal spray consisting of healthy bacteria (like probiotics) that guards the ear from infection. By reducing the need for antibiotics and surgery, Spritz-OM is set to improve child health and minimize antibiotic use.
Spritz-OM is a novel patent-protected nasal therapy set to prevent childhood ear infections.
Almost every child experiences a middle ear infection by their 2nd birthday. One in 4 suffer repeat infections, often resulting in hearing loss and requiring antibiotics and surgery.
Spritz-OM targets the major pathogen that is responsible for over 50% of the 700 million annual ear infections worldwide.
News
The team is working hard to bring Spritz-OM to clinical trials – first in adults and then in children, ensuring a safe product that can be produced at-scale and easily used at home or in clinics. Spritz-OM is an Australian innovation with the potential to deliver global health impact by preventing infection, reducing healthcare costs, and improving childhood outcomes.
Funding For Trials
In 2025 funding was secured
to conduct a Phase 1 trial.
Phase 1 Enabling Funding
Spritz-OM is also backed by funding from Brandon Capital’s CUREator program in 2024 and 2025. Plus Future Health Research Innovation Seed Funding in 2023 and a FHRIF Innovation Fellowship in 2025.
Ways Forward
Patents Granted
Patents granted in the USA and Australia in 2024.
Phase 1 trial scheduled 2026
CONTACT
Inquiries
For any inquiries, please email info@otomedicines.com or fill out the following form
Address
Oto Medicines Pty Ltd
The Kids Research Institute Australia
15 Hospital Ave
Nedlands WA 6009