CILCARE

CILCARE is a French biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of therapies for auditory disorders. Founded in 2014 in Montpellier by former Sanofi executives Célia Belline, Marie-Pierre Pasdelou, and Sylvie Pucheu, the company concentrates on hearing conditions that are often underdiagnosed or poorly served by existing treatment options. Its research areas include cochlear synaptopathy, often described as hidden hearing loss, tinnitus, and other forms of auditory dysfunction. The company combines biotechnology, artificial intelligence, biomarker research, drug development, and specialized preclinical models. A central objective is to understand damage to the auditory system at a biological level and develop interventions that can restore or protect neural connections in the cochlea. CILCARE has identified drug candidates including CIL001 and CIL003, which have been associated with potential applications in hearing loss and tinnitus. The company has also worked on technologies intended to improve drug delivery to the inner ear, an area where conventional systemic administration can be difficult because of anatomical and physiological barriers. CILCARE expanded its international activities during the late 2010s and early 2020s. It established a subsidiary in Boston in 2017 and developed relationships with organizations involved in regulatory toxicology, biomedical research, and intracochlear delivery. In 2020, it expanded activities into Denmark and acquired four proprietary drug candidates from Sanofi's portfolio. A 2021 collaboration with South Korean non-clinical research organization Knotus supported the development of therapies intended to prevent or treat hearing loss. The company has also pursued research platforms that may reduce dependence on animal testing. In 2023, CILCARE worked with SATT AxLR and the Laboratory of Bioengineering and Nanosciences at the University of Montpellier on OrgaEar, a project using induced pluripotent stem cells and three-dimensional cultures to create cochlear organoids. These models are intended to support the study of deafness mechanisms, the identification of auditory biomarkers, and the screening of potential treatments. CILCARE's commercial and strategic profile strengthened in 2024. In June, it announced an exclusive option agreement with Shionogi covering worldwide licensing rights to CIL001 and CIL003. In December, the company announced a new financing round involving Shionogi, Multi Invest VCC, and SPRIM Global Investments. The company has also received public innovation support, including funding under France's Plan France 2030. Its work has received recognition from the Hearing Technology Innovator Awards and other innovation and business programs. Beyond drug development, CILCARE participates in research connecting hearing and broader neurological health. In early 2025, it initiated the SAPHIR study with the University Hospitals of Montpellier and Nîmes. The study examines the relevance of hearing impairment in the early stages of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The available reference material also describes plans or announcements concerning a Japanese subsidiary and later changes to the Sanofi licensing relationship, but the detailed corporate and legal status of those developments requires verification. CILCARE remains a privately held, research-oriented biotechnology company whose principal identity is tied to auditory medicine and the development of treatments for hearing disorders.

CILCARE was founded in Montpellier in 2014 by Célia Belline, Marie-Pierre Pasdelou, and Sylvie Pucheu, three former Sanofi executives. The founders established the company around a specialized biotechnology mission: to develop better ways of diagnosing and treating auditory disorders, particularly conditions that are difficult to detect or for which treatment options remain limited. Its research has focused on the biology of hearing loss, cochlear synaptopathy, tinnitus, and related damage to the neural structures connecting sensory hair cells with the auditory system. The company's early development combined therapeutic research with enabling technologies. In 2017, CILCARE established a subsidiary in Boston and entered into a relationship with CBSET concerning regulatory toxicology services for hearing-related treatments. It also collaborated with Draper on an intracochlear drug-delivery system, reflecting the difficulty of delivering medicines effectively to the inner ear. These activities helped position CILCARE as more than a conventional drug-discovery company: it also sought to build specialized research, delivery, and regulatory capabilities around auditory medicine. In 2020, CILCARE expanded its activities to Denmark and acquired four proprietary drug candidates from Sanofi's portfolio. The transaction broadened the company's development pipeline and deepened its relationship with its founders' former employer. In 2021, CILCARE announced a collaboration with Knotus, a South Korean non-clinical contract research organization, to support therapies intended to prevent or treat hearing loss. These international relationships formed part of the company's effort to develop and evaluate treatments across multiple research and regulatory environments. CILCARE subsequently increased its emphasis on advanced disease models and translational research. In 2023, it collaborated with SATT AxLR and the Laboratory of Bioengineering and Nanosciences at the University of Montpellier on OrgaEar. The project uses induced pluripotent stem cells and three-dimensional cultures to create cochlear organoids. Such models can help researchers investigate mechanisms of deafness, evaluate drug candidates, and identify auditory biomarkers while potentially reducing reliance on animal experiments. Recognition followed as the company developed its scientific and commercial profile. In 2022, CILCARE and CBSET received the Hearing Technology Innovator Award in the Therapeutics category. In 2023, CILCARE received the Women in Business Award from the French-American Chamber of Commerce of New England and was selected for the ScaleUp Excellence program. In 2024, it received support through the i-Démo call for projects under the Plan France 2030 initiative and obtained another Hearing Technology Innovator Award, this time associated with CIL001. A major strategic development came in June 2024, when CILCARE and Shionogi announced an exclusive option agreement. The agreement gave Shionogi worldwide licensing rights, subject to the option structure, for two candidates, CIL001 and CIL003. The candidates have been linked to potential treatments for hearing disorders including hidden hearing loss and tinnitus. In December 2024, CILCARE announced a financing round involving Shionogi, Multi Invest VCC, and SPRIM Global Investments. The available reference material describes the round as bringing total funding to approximately €40 million, but the financial details are not independently documented here. In early 2025, CILCARE initiated the SAPHIR study with the University Hospitals of Montpellier and Nîmes. The study explores the relationship between hearing impairment and early Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, extending the company's work beyond isolated auditory symptoms toward the interaction between hearing, cognition, and neurodegeneration. Reference material also describes a Japanese subsidiary and later changes to the Sanofi licensing relationship in 2026, including Sanofi becoming a minority shareholder and CILCARE receiving European Regional Development Fund support. Those later corporate developments should be verified against primary company or regulatory sources before being treated as definitive. CILCARE is currently best characterized as a privately held French biotechnology company with international research and partnering activities in auditory therapeutics.

• 2025

  SAPHIR study begins

  [1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  CILCARE began a collaborative study of hearing relevance in early Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

• 2024

  Shionogi option agreement

  [1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  CILCARE granted Shionogi an exclusive worldwide option relating to CIL001 and CIL003.

• 2023

  OrgaEar project begins

  [1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  CILCARE and academic and technology-transfer partners launched an organoid-based cochlear research project.

• 2021

  Knotus collaboration

  [1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  CILCARE partnered with Knotus on non-clinical work related to hearing-loss prevention and treatment.

• 2020

  Expansion to Denmark and acquisition of Sanofi candidates

  [1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  CILCARE expanded into Denmark and acquired four proprietary drug candidates from Sanofi's portfolio.

• 2017

  United States expansion and delivery partnerships

  [1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  The company established a Boston subsidiary, worked with CBSET on regulatory toxicology, and collaborated with Draper on intracochlear drug delivery.

• 2014

  CILCARE is founded in Montpellier

  [1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  Célia Belline, Marie-Pierre Pasdelou, and Sylvie Pucheu founded CILCARE to develop therapies and research tools for auditory disorders.

A specialized biotechnology developer addressing underserved hearing disorders through drug discovery, auditory biomarkers, artificial intelligence, advanced cellular models, and inner-ear delivery research.

• Auditory therapeutic candidate

  CIL001

  CIL001 is a CILCARE drug candidate under development for hearing disorders. Reference material associates it with hidden hearing loss, also described as cochlear synaptopathy, and tinnitus. The candidate has received innovation recognition and was included in the 2024 exclusive option agreement with Shionogi. Its clinical development stage, regulatory status, formulation, and approved indications are not specified in the available material.

• Auditory therapeutic candidate

  CIL003

  CIL003 is a CILCARE drug candidate associated with the company's hearing-disorder pipeline. It was included with CIL001 in the exclusive option agreement announced with Shionogi in 2024, covering potential worldwide licensing rights. Publicly available reference material does not establish a commercial launch, approved indication, clinical stage, or detailed mechanism of action.

• Cochlear research platform · 2023

  OrgaEar

  OrgaEar is a collaborative research project using induced pluripotent stem cells and three-dimensional cultures to produce cochlear organoids. The platform is intended to model hearing biology, investigate deafness, support auditory biomarker research, and assist in the evaluation of potential treatments. Its use of advanced cellular models may also help reduce reliance on animal testing during early research.

• 2025

  Expand research into hearing and neurodegenerationStrategy

  Background

  Hearing impairment may be relevant to the early detection or understanding of neurodegenerative disease.

  Action taken

  CILCARE initiated the SAPHIR study with the University Hospitals of Montpellier and Nîmes.

  Aftermath

  The study broadened the company's research agenda toward connections between auditory health, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.

  Source

• 2024

  Enter an exclusive option agreement with ShionogiM&A

  Background

  CILCARE sought an international commercialization pathway for selected auditory drug candidates.

  Action taken

  The company granted Shionogi an exclusive worldwide option relating to CIL001 and CIL003.

  Aftermath

  The agreement connected CILCARE's pipeline with a major international pharmaceutical partner, although the ultimate licensing outcome is not specified in the available material.

  Source

• 2023

  Launch the OrgaEar research projectProduct launch

  Background

  Conventional models can be insufficient for studying complex cochlear biology and screening treatments.

  Action taken

  CILCARE partnered with SATT AxLR and the University of Montpellier to develop cochlear organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells and three-dimensional cultures.

  Aftermath

  The project created a platform for deafness research, biomarker work, and potential non-animal testing approaches.

  Source

• 2020

  Acquire four Sanofi drug candidatesM&A

  Background

  CILCARE sought to broaden its auditory medicine pipeline.

  Action taken

  The company acquired four proprietary drug candidates from Sanofi's portfolio while expanding activities into Denmark.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition added assets to CILCARE's therapeutic development portfolio.

  Source

• 2017

  Internationalize research and regulatory capabilitiesStrategy

  Background

  CILCARE needed specialized capabilities for developing and evaluating therapies for inner-ear disorders.

  Action taken

  The company established a Boston subsidiary, worked with CBSET on regulatory toxicology, and collaborated with Draper on intracochlear delivery.

  Aftermath

  The moves expanded CILCARE's research and development network beyond France.

  Source

• 2025

  CILCARE initiates SAPHIR study on hearing and neurodegenerative disease[1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Working with the University Hospitals of Montpellier and Nîmes, CILCARE began a study examining hearing relevance during the early stages of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

• 2024

  CILCARE and Shionogi announce option agreement for hearing-disorder candidates[1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Shionogi received an exclusive option concerning worldwide licensing rights to CIL001 and CIL003, candidates associated with hidden hearing loss and tinnitus.

• 2024

  CILCARE receives Plan France 2030 innovation funding[1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  CILCARE secured support through the i-Démo call for projects under France's Plan France 2030 initiative.

• 2024

  CIL001 receives a second Hearing Technology Innovator Award[1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  CILCARE's CIL001 drug candidate received further recognition in the Hearing Technology Innovator Awards.

• 2023

  CILCARE launches OrgaEar research collaboration[1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  CILCARE, SATT AxLR, and the University of Montpellier's Laboratory of Bioengineering and Nanosciences began the OrgaEar project to develop cochlear organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells and three-dimensional cultures.

• 2023

  CILCARE receives business and scale-up recognition[1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company received the Women in Business Award from the French-American Chamber of Commerce of New England and was selected for the ScaleUp Excellence program.

• 2022

  CILCARE receives Hearing Technology Innovator Award[1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  CILCARE and CBSET received recognition in the Therapeutics category of the Hearing Technology Innovator Awards.

• 2021

  CILCARE and Knotus collaborate on hearing-loss therapies[1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The companies announced cooperation on non-clinical development work intended to support therapies for preventing and treating hearing loss.

• 2020

  CILCARE expands to Denmark and acquires Sanofi drug candidates[1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  CILCARE broadened its international activities and acquired four proprietary drug candidates from Sanofi's portfolio.

• 2017

  CILCARE establishes Boston subsidiary and develops research partnerships[1]Cilcareen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company expanded into the United States and worked with CBSET on regulatory toxicology services while also collaborating with Draper on intracochlear drug delivery.

1. 1Cilcareen.wikipedia.org